The evolution of the cowboy boot dates back to the time of the America Civil War. In fact, many boots from the 1860’s are indistinguishable from those issued to the military. These boots were plain and utilitarian with low heels and squared-off toes. In early boots, it is impossible to determine the left foot boot from the right.
Spurs originally were brought to the New World by Spanish settlers in the 16th century. The modern period of spurs lasted from about 1860 to 1910. During this period the Mexican spur contained many interesting design elements mixing silver and iron to create figural, as well as geometric, works of art. They were typically large and heavy and were sometimes adorned with semi-precious stones such as rubies and emeralds.
Pierre-Alexis Dumas, the creative director of Hermès, is sitting in his office at the company’s 131-year-old seat on the rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in Paris, talking about what it’s like to run the most respected major luxury brand in the world. “My job,” says the lean, formal 44-year-old and sixth-generation descendant of the company’s founder, “is to keep the strong creativity of Hermès alive. To nourish the rigor and the vision . . . to make these values vibrate.”
Gucci has announced that it will be continuing its collaboration with equestrian show jumper and granddaughter of Princess Grace of Monaco, Charlotte Casiraghi.
Haute hats, southern spring wear and the latest fashions are synonymous with the Iroquois Steeplechase
The Iroquois Steeplechase is the premier spring race in American steeplechasing and Music City’s traditional rite of spring – typically attracting more than 25,000 spectators.
Texas was Mexico before it was Texas. Spanish settlers brought horses and cattle to Mexico some 400 years ago. In Spain, cattle were not allowed to roam free because space was limited. However, in the vastness of the New World, they were set free to graze and reproduce.
With the rise of the automobile, the train and modern vehicles in general, the horse has lost its place as the premier working animal in much of the Western World.