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There’s no doubt about it, we are smack dab in the middle of the fashion age. And that’s even true when it comes to chaps. No longer just boring brown, chaps can be made in any number of colors to complement what your intention may be while wearing them. If you plan to use your chaps for the purpose in which they were originally designed riding horses then you may want to consider some colors that will suit your horse’s coloring as well as your own!If you happen to ride a sorrel or chestnut horse (that’s a red head for those non-horsey people), some popular color options in the chap department are rich earth tones such as caramel, butter, chocolate, or sand.If you’re riding a horse that falls into the categories of silver, blue roan, or grey, you might consider making the bold move in some jewel colored chaps like magenta, purple, or garnet.If you want just one pair of chaps that can work with a mixture of horse colors (should you be fortunate enough to own more than one trusty steed), (more…)

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If you want to settle down in front of a warm winter fire this winter and learn more about the history of the chap-wearing cowboy, following is a list of suggested reading that might just keep you entertained! Cowboy Gear: A Photographic Portrayal of the Early Cowboys and Their Equipment (David AR. Stoecklein) is described as a “magnificent, full color documentary of our Western heritage, including saddles, spurs, boots, hats, and attitude. Cowboy Gear shows artifacts and collectibles from 1860 to 1920 as they were actually used by their original owners — it’s a true look into the daily lives of the men who settled the West.” One reviewer of the book commented that it “captures the true essence of the west.”Bandannas, Chaps, and Ten-gallon Hats: Life in the Old West (Bobbie Kalman) provides uses for bandannas and explains why hats are described as gallons along with photos illustrating the clothing worn by men and women cowhands. Recommended for young readers. Cowboys & the Trappings of the Old West (William Manns) is a pictorial celebration of the old time buckaroo. The cowboys’ colorful story and history are graphically presented in this epic narrative. For the first time, his saddles, chaps, spurs, and other tools of the trade are presented in a carefully crafted portrait. Tribute is given to the artisans and craftsmen who fashioned the cowboy’s unique outfit including his chaps!

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If you love chaps, you probably love “all things cowboy.”If so, following is a list of five cowboy movies where you are more likely than not to spot some awesomely authentic chap wearing ranging from shotgun chaps and batwing chaps to chinks and woolies.Check out some fierce fashion statements:Dances with Wolves provides a great look at the formal look of chaps as Lieutenant John Dunbar grapples with the fork in the road between civilization and immersion into the Sioux tribe.Once Upon a Time in the West not only studies the clash of three men as they struggle for rank in a western background, but it showcases some awesome cowboy apparel including the ever-famous oil-slick duster.Shane is a timeless classic that encapsulates everything mysterious about the west including the mysterious title character. Check out some of the buckskin, fringes, and rawhide and (more…)

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Typically when one hears the word “chaps” the mind rushes back to the days of the cowboy out on the trail roping cattle, weathering the elements, or just trying to earn an honest day’s wages.And while those images would be pretty spot on, there are some images that are not quite as common.Surprisingly, riders who ride horses in the English style of riding (opposed to the classically western-saddled theme) also wear chaps. (more…)

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The American cowboy seems to be slowly becoming a thing of the past.Gone are the days of cattle ranching when men herded cattle by horseback from their summer high country grazing pastures to the more protective lower winter plains the process now being replaced more and more by motor vehicles or helicopters.But in the late 19^th century men needed to protect their legs from the harsh terrain they encountered as they herded cattle by horseback oft times being forced to rub against cactus, thorns, sage, or other abrasive brush as they moved herds in some very rugged terrain.Borrowing from their Spanish and Mexican counterparts, the American cowboy soon learned that the wearing of chaps something that Mexican vaqueros designed in the early 1800s would protect their legs while riding.And since a cowboy’s legs were almost as critical to him and his effectiveness at his job as his horse, (more…)

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