Texas, Here Are 5 Reasons Why You May See Cowboy Boots On Fences

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Driving along the many state highways, farm-to-market, and county roads in East Texas you may notice a pair of cowboy boots hanging on fence posts and wonder why they're there, who they belong to, and if you should take them. I know I've noticed this myself and wondered what they stood for especially when we went to visit my wife's grandmother years ago who lived in Tool, Texas. I'd see them along Highway 31 and Highway 274 and wonder.

If you're out exploring the back roads of East Texas, or Texas for that fact, should you try to find their rightful owner? Most likely not, just leave them be. Here are five reasons why Texans may leave boots on a fence line.

Classroom.com explored the topic and tradition tops the list of why ranch owners and ranch hands left their boots on their fences. Those traditions seem to continue in East Texas.

Boots For Their Horse

Cowboys develop strong bonds with their horses. It's their work partner. Whether out inspecting the fence line, corralling cattle or just riding them, they are part of their family. Horse owners would sacrifice a pair of boots by placing them on the fence line for their horse if it died or was sold.

Boots For Ranch Hands

Tending to the fields and farms is a big job and can't be handled by the landowner alone, so 'hired hands' are hired to help out the landowner. These loyal hired hands were often considered part of the family and when they died or moved on, a pair of their boots were often placed on the fence in their memory.

The Ranch Is Open But Done For The Day

Long before the internet, electricity, phones, and even before we had 'open' and 'closed' signs for businesses, ranchers would leave their boots on the fence by the gate to let visitors know they were done for the day and were at home.

Boots In Memorial

Boots to a cowboy and rancher are extremely important. When you find a good pair, you get attached to them and often wear them for years, but over time they do wear out and once past their life span, ranchers would place them on the fence along with some of their other favorites that they've retired.

Tradition

Today, only those close to the ranch will understand why boots are placed on the fence. For whatever reason, it's out of tradition. If you've spent any time around a farm or ranch you understand tradition and know its meaning.

So while you're out driving the county roads, farm-to-markets, and state highways and you see a pair of boots on a fence, they're there in honor or memory of someone or something special to the ranch owner.