Another thing about spurs, most ranch-hands used spurs, but only while on horseback. If they were repairing fences, or working out in pastures, the spurs would come off and be hung on their saddle or put into a saddlebag, but they wouldn’t wear them while working because they would get tangled up in tall grass or weeds. And many saloon owners didn’t want them inside because they could scar up their woodwork or chairs. I grew up on a ranch and started riding horses when I was 2 years old, and only wore spurs when I rodeoed, bull rider, and they were custom made just for bull riding. But, if you train horses well enough, they don’t need spurs or quirts, so I never did.
I remember an old Red Skelton sketch as Deadeye where he was wearing one spur. "Hey, Deadeye, why do you only have one spur?" "Well, I figger if I get one side 'a the horse goin', the other half'll catch up."
I know when my dad (a vaquero) was killed, he had a horse saddle and a couple of quirts. Although he had his own brand registered in southern AZ at 10 yr old, his day was mostly 1930’s and 40’s. I don’t recall any spurs nor do I remember the horse or the saddle. I very much remember the quirts and can testify with experience that they do indeed HURT when slapped across the bottom side after doing something stupid.
Before my appaloosa passed away, that girl required me to wear spurs. I never really had to use them. The movement of my heel to make them clank was sufficient to motivate her.
Thanks again, Santee. Regarding those uncomfortable "riding" heels for standing and walking, after several recommendations I had 1/4" taken off the heel on two pair of Texas Jack boots. Doesn't seem like much but it makes a world of difference!
Dress boots were more common than low shoes. Even in the cities one could expect some poor conditions to walk through. Between mud, horse dung, and dust boots were practical footwear. Lace up dress boots were very common for me until streets were paved.
A lot of people probably would have worn what we call now "heritage boots", like the ones offered by Red Wing in leather. Leather boots with a heel but strongly made. I wear them every day.
Yup, as a youngster, I worked on a ranch where I was mounted 50% of the time, I wore spurs. But working on the ground, no. I also rode a horse to school, as did many others. Once I got to school, they were hung on the saddle horn. If you walked into the school house with em on, the teacher's wrath was upon you!😮 And later, in the mounted unit in the PD, we wore spurs on duty, and mounted. But they came off if you were in headquarters. The chief wasn't fond of "Cowboy Cops" as he called us. 😄
Here's a left field topic to do a video on. Rollerskating in the old west. It got popular in the 1880s and 90s. Maybe give you an excuse to suffer through all 219 minutes of Heavens Gate
This was excellent. I always enjoy the fact versus fiction for the old west. I am holding out for Arizona Ghostriders the flamethrower to hit the merch store.
Always noticed that, even living on a ranch as a kid we only wore spurs when riding and not always then, off the horse for any extended time or doing work on the ground they might just get put in the saddle bags
Great topic. I was watching Gunsmoke the other day and was wondering why Marshall Dillon was wearing spurs walking around town, but then figured you never know when he’ll have to saddle up and save Miss Kitty…
I had a mare that tended to need a lot of leg to get her moving. One day my riding instructor suggested I get a pair of blunt end spurs. i bought them and I did not even get to touch this mare's sides with them. Once I was in the saddle, she took off like a shot in the arena ! Apparently some one had used spurs on her before I owned her. It was the last time I wore those spurs...lol. She could see those spurs on my boots. She was a smart horse that would memorize my dressage test routines. All those spurs did was prove she DID have get up and go !
My great grandfather worked on a ranch in Indiana during the late 1890s. My mom has a picture of him on horseback from roughly 1896 in which he appears to be wearing possibly brogan type shoes, you can actually see his socks protruding between the top of the footwear and bottom of the trouser legs. But he definitely does NOT have on spurs in the photo 🤔
That might be a fact. Appreciate the channel by the way. Sometimes I think I'm old, but other times I feel like I'm grateful to have a visible link to the old days that make this country wonderful.
This was so cool and informative. **I always love the EXTRAS you throw in your videos, Santee. It astounds me that you have so many interesting topics to share with us. 👏🏻🤠👏🏻🎊
Back during the Urban Cowboy craze of the 80s, I remember reading in SF columnist Herb Caen's daily of a well dressed gentleman entering a restaurant with his boots and costume spurs on, clink clink clink. I don't think it had the desired effect on the other patrons that night. Nice version of "The Wreck of the Old 97" there at the end.
Reminded of the scene in the original True Grit movie where Le Beouf is asked to remove his spurs to spare the boarding house chairs any more rough use. He clops his big Texas fancy traps onto the table.
Thanks again for another great video, Santee. I've a few pairs of stovepipes, but at the end of the day walking around in them gets painful. Been wearing packers a lot more. Gotta agree; the Patreon is worth it! Have a great weekend!
I recall the very first time I learned about spurs..... Kermit the Frog was wearing them with boots as he strode along. There's actually a 4 second clip of that on RU-vid! 🤠🐸
Hey Santee, I have my GGGrandfathers ledgers from his shoe making shop from 1840s to 1870s. A Fine pair of boots, in SE Pennsylvania was $5! Children’s shoes-.95! Thanks Much! DaveyJO in Pennsylvania
Hey pard Santee good video again as usual. Sometimes when I am doing re-enactment skit I wear spurs (sometimes) because when I come into town with the other rapscallion’s I just got off my horse (make believe) therefore would be wearing spurs in town, I am sure you knew that. David & I dress period everyday in Payson, I am in my stovepipe boots everyday, only thing wears heals down fast. I find my boots comfortable all day wearing. Thanks again video.
Before my wreck I wore 2 bullet casings on each one of my boots to make spur noses. I drilled holes and ran string in, worked great. I wore my boots with pride but now my back is too bad to even try thanks to the person that hit me at full speed while I was at a red light. (hurt like hell I tell ya)
Another fine video, really nothing funnier than seeing people trip themselves trying to walk around with their big ol’ spurs on -lol! But I was hoping to see the t-Rex in spurs! Keep em coming !
My horse RIP Sophie, never required spurs or a whip. My riding boots have the ledge for them. I have jingle bob spurs but never need them. A great video Santee
Dont forget pryor to the Civil War shoes were crafted individually, by a cobler, for each person. During the war "Brogans" were mass produced to fill the demand of the large number of troops needing footwear. I imagine there were a great number in surpluss on the market after the war. Also, interestingly, they didn't make them for right or left feet. Instead they were the same shape so the user could switch them on thier feet so as to wear them out evenly. Great video really enjoyed it...
Another great video! I always wore one of three boots/brogans. I have the tall stovepipe with knee flap for my Confederate Cavalry, I also wore the shorter artillery boots and the Jefferson Bootee/brogan. All three were war era, but still worked for Western. Depending on what I was doing, I wore the Cavalry spurs with the small rowell. I sent you a private message.
Elucidating as usual with unknown issues. I had always figured that the post Civil War cowmen wore surplus army boots for economy. Interesting to see how far back the stacked heel goes. I wonder if it was introduced via the vaqueros clothing? Fascinating topic. I remember owning a pair of alligator stacked heel boots. Looked cool but terrible to walk in. Working at KVOA TV (Ch 4) in college the weather man (Hank Hubbard) wore fancy stitched stacked heel boots cut off at the ankle like s dress shoe. Never saw the like again. Comments additions always fun and informative to read. Great variety of followers. Great channel. Thanks.
@@ArizonaGhostriders In the mid 17th century, high heels, on both mens'' boots AND shoes, became a fashion statement. Another fad was the "military" look, boots with riding heels, spurs, and lots of lace at the boot tops
The new sack coat looks great on you. Great topic on footwear and spurs that always comes up and a matter of much debate with some folks, especially about spurs. Some folks say, "Well, you are wrong because they wear them in all the movies." Eh, yeah, right. 🤔🧐😊😋🤣
I have a stack of Civil War Boots, both cavalry and infantry. I figure army surplus was available for years after the war. Really, I wear'm most of the time. BTW, the biggest trick to wearing spurs in town is descending stairs. Makes ya look like a really bad dancer.
One more Saturday morning history lesson that leaves a big smile on my face. Thank you Santee and Crew (Gang?Mob?). One more thought is students in history classes have to learn fifty more years of history than I did.
Very awesome and interestingly informative video, i really liked and enjoyed, great job and well done keep up the great work. I kearned alot about footwear and spurs in the old west frontier and I got a ton of inspiration for the old west, 1920s and retro 70s to early- mid 2000s and video games, animation and computers inspired mythos-franchise project that im working lon writing. Im definitely going to add old west footwear and spurs to my stories and world.
@@ArizonaGhostriders thanks and your welcome. Today I'm getting further story inspiration from the SMG4 Animation series on RU-vid and videos on super mario 64 and other video game videos.
Its not well known, but in the old west, when collecting a bounty, or other proof of death was often good enough evidence if only a mans boots were brought to the authorities. That tells me a lot about the importance of foot wear in the old days.
My living history is earlier. I made moccasins by the ton it seems. They don’t last long and you need several pair for a few days in the woods. About fifteen years ago started wearing period shoes…. Never looked back And unlike Nancy Sinatra I found out them boots ain’t made for walking
The old west group I'm with does a lot on board a train. Moving around train cars with spurs on isn't the easiest thing to do. My biggest fear is stepping off the train and one of my spurs getting hung up on the steps causing me to faceplant on the concrete.
@@ArizonaGhostriders thankfully it hasn't happened...yet. The secret is to walk down the train steps sideways. Still, there have been a few times that my spurs got tangled up and I appeared less than graceful!🤠
@@ArizonaGhostriders not wearing spurs would be the best solution, but I'm too hard headed to stop wearing them. You know how obstinate us Hoosiers can be at times!😉
Ever thought of doing a review/playthrough of some classic western games and movies? Personally I’d like your take on the Mad Dog MacCree games. They’re fun and hilariously campy in all the best ways.
I very seldom ride.horseback, but love wearing tall stovetop boots and spurs . There are many choices . Black spurs , silver fancy spurs with jingle Bob's and fancy spur straps with Conchos and tooling and buck stitching . Why wouldn't you wand to walk around in these and listen to the sound the make. I can hear cowboys boots coming for a mile . ( well maybe not a mile )
I wonder really if it was popular for a cowboy to dig a horses glsnkd up with spurs especially on a long drive where every horse counted. I do like wearing jingle bobs for the look and the sound when I walk.
Not to bring up politics, but a couple of months ago, a candidate for president was wearing some cowboy boots with a heel, and unfortunately, nobody did their research about cowboy boots. Now he's not polling as well. That man was just a cowboy.
@ArizonaGhostriders I remember one of the other candidates saying something like, "I don't even where heels that are that high!" And it's funny that those particular boots are worn by real cowboy, such as Doc Holliday, or those who want to stay in the saddle. perhaps we need to elect a president who can stay in the saddle?
I didn't realize her movie's wardrobe department had done that. Hahahahaha 😂. Of course, Ken Curtis wore spurs on Gunsmoke as the Festus character for years so he could clink & clank through a scene.
I got that mug ! My Imported Irish Tea tastes perfect out of it ! And is envied by all at the Breakfast Table by golly 😊 Thank you Santee for spurring us on to explore Western History and keeping The Old West Alive !
Santee, Another awesome Old West content. What book would recommend to be the best on Old West true history that you have read? You and Mrs. Pew Pew have a beautiful and blessed weekend.
I use so many depending on the topic, but if you can find the James Horan books on the west, they are very helpful. They are older, so you would want to fact check some things. As we all move through time, new info comes to light.
I am curious about what percentage of people could afford two pairs of shoes / boots during most of that early post-Civil War period or would decide to invest in a second pair unless were some one that had a urban existence. The reason I ask that is that shortly after the Civil War in Missouri, the Bald Knobber's vigilantes wore socks over their boots because that they lacked a second pair of boots. This was done because they figure some one could identify them by their boots since that is all that they had, but I guess some of the more wealthier vigilantes may have had a pair of shoes for Sunday's. But also the fact that they normally wore their jackets inside out, again for the same reason why they wore socks over their boots, was because they didn't have a second coat to switch into later. Because of that, it makes me wonder that if some of them couldn't really afford a second coat, how could they afford a second set of shoes?
