Cowboy boots and “Cossacks” - why they are not the same thing

Many people notice that the same things are called differently in different countries. This is what happened with the famous cowboy boots. Shoes for horsemen, which in the West are strongly associated with conquerors of the prairies, are called “Cossacks” in Russia, although this is incorrect. Why did this happen?

To understand the issue, you need to dive into US history. The Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, greatly changed American society. Those who previously lived in quite comfortable conditions in big cities had to explore the wild territories of the western states. The lands that attracted people with their resources were not welcoming.

The merciless sun, sandstorms, poisonous snakes and spiders - all this required a review of the wardrobe and improvement of its protective functions. Of course, first of all, the changes affected shoes. Today it is difficult to say who and when invented cowboy boots. But these shoes definitely became popular after 1865.

The Civil War ended and livestock began to be exported en masse from the southwestern states, mainly Texas. Cattlemen, the same ones that were called cowboys in the USA, wore boots that had optimal functionality for their work. The top of these shoes was just above the middle of the calf, which helped protect the feet from rubbing against the horse's sides during long rides. Thanks to the width of the shaft, these boots could be easily put on and taken off.

Thanks to the narrow front part, cowboy boots did not interfere with getting into the saddle, and the truncated heel helped to keep the foot firmly in the stirrup. In addition, the narrowed toes allowed the boots to easily slip out of the stirrups during falls. For people who rode wild horses, this feature often saved their lives. In the instep, such shoes had a rigid insert made of wood or metal. It fixed the leg and protected it from dislocations and fractures.

There were two types of cowboy boots: classic and roper. The latter were shorter - their boot ended below the middle of the shin. They had a round toe and a small flat heel. Such shoes were not intended for riding, but for performing various tasks on the ground. The ropes were comfortable and provided good protection from snakes, spiders and scorpions. The requirements for them were not as stringent as for the classics, so many options for such boots appeared, including models with laces.

Cowboy boots were made from thick pig or bovine leather. One could find both the simplest options and decorated shoes with embossed patterns on the tops, rivets, fringe and carved heels. Shoes with folk Indian ornaments were in particular demand.

For decades, cowboy boots remained part of the “workwear” of cattlemen. But with the advent of cinema, everything changed. The real hype around these shoes began in the early 80s, after the release of the movie “Urban Cowboy” with John Travolta. More than 17 million pairs of these shoes have been sold in the United States, and the popularity of cowboy boots has spread beyond the United States.

Cowboy boots also appeared in the world of high fashion. The pioneer was couturier Ralph Lauren in the 1970s. Later, other clothing designers began to wear them on the catwalk. Today, cowboy boots are a classic. On sale you can find both expensive branded models and simple shoes for chain stores.

In Rus', boots somewhat similar to cowboy boots appeared in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were worn by archers and mounted warriors. True, such uniform shoes did not have a specific name. Europe learned about it during the Napoleonic wars. When the Russian army entered Paris, the French were surprised by the boots of the Cossacks; they were immediately called les cosaques.

In fact, there was little in common between Russian and cowboy boots. “Cossacks” have shorter tops, long and very narrow capes, and high heels. They were also often decorated with rivets, embossing and even painting in a folk style. When Western cinema penetrated, many noticed the external similarity between “Cossacks” and cowboy boots. Fashionistas and fashionistas immediately began hunting for these shoes.

It so happened that the shoes for riders from the USA and Russia, which had lost practical significance, were no longer distinguishable. Therefore, many are sure that they are one and the same. To summarize, we can say that riding shoes have common features among many nations. Developing independently from each other, it received elements that were optimal for use by riders. The boots of riders from Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China, Tatar and Persian shoes are similar to “Cossacks”.