While watching old westerns from the 1930’s I sometimes see a cowboy, usually the hero, riding around with what appears to be decorative leather stirrup covers that hang down almost to the ground. It’s not something used by most of the actors, just one or two of them at the most.
I tried googling to see if such things ever existed in real life, but I haven’t been able to find anything about them. I assume that people still use them for parades and such. Sorry I can’t post a picture in case you have no idea what I am referring to.
My question is what were these used for back in the day? To keep your boots clean while riding? They look odd now, but perhaps there were more common in the past…
I think you’re talking about extralong “Tapaderos” or “taps” like in this picture?
Hooded stirrups (the ones that are covered in the front, without any part dangling down) are useful in that they keep brush, etc out of your stirrup and prevent your foot from ever getting through the stirrup by accident – but that doesn’t explain the length. looking around the internet a little, allegedly you could use the lengthy-style tapaderos to slap at cattle, but I’m not sure to what extent they were useful, and to what extent they were just fancy.
