A special thank you! and one itty bitty question

BigJ · A special thank you! and one itty bitty question

This is for all of you who try to answer my many, many, many questions with great patience and thoroughness.

By request, I'll try to refrain from asking too many at once. My apologies.

I ask allot of questions not with the intention that each once must be answered but to try to convey the whole thought, which many times I cannot articulate well into one statement or question.

So back to these Zamarros:

Has the original design changed over the years?

I'd ask more, but Felix said one at a time... or else... Club

caliber

caliber

Candice, Colombia that I remember, only had two types of Zamarros!

1. The Pelo Pesado
2. The leather (square for working)

1. The Pelo Pesado, is the one that in the old days was used to protect their clothes when dress for occasions.
Is also the one used in actuality for competitions
Luxury zamarro

2. The Leather Zamarro- is the one use for work (training, cattle's), is not the same style as number 1. Is a square tip zamarro.

working zamarro

Same style! but the leather was very treaty(cured) for resisting weather and hard work......

Kerry W

Felix, do you have a photo of yourself modeling these, so I can get a good idea about how they look? please

BigJ

OK,

Next question:

So are #1 and #2 related--same history?

(BTW this is killing me)

caliber

One item was a luxury item, one was a work item.

Thanks Candice! Wink

is always good things to know...........

caliber

BigJ

Now I have questions relating to the work zamarros:

1. Were these designed for specific needs in Colombia?

For example some chaps in the USA follow tradition and some were redesigned for specific purposes based on the task or environment. Chaps, like hats and other dress became a way to identify where a person was from and his style of work on a horse.

See? I didn't add "and" "or" "but"...

caliber

I think by the look is was more like ONE STYLE fits all! LOL!

BigJ

Thanks.

This is my last question promise! (at least for now)

Is there a literal translation for zamarros in English?

EDIT: OK, I lied, I have one more.

caliber

zamarros
(Lat Am) chaps, riding breeches

za•mar•ros Masculine - Noun - Plural
1. chaps; Synonyms: pantalones zahones, zahón, zahones, zajones, chaparreras, pierneras; Heavy leather trousers worn by cowboys.

Edit: to add!

Is on of those ancient words that originated from the mother land of Spain.

Zamarros could also be translated in English to "MAKINTOSHES" serving the same intent..... protection from weather and terrains.

Kerry W

Hacienda Radiante

I'm with Kerry -- we need pictures. Laughing

caliber

BigJ

Ok, now for the last question:

How many cowhides to make the Pelo Pesado?

I'll find some of the types used in the USA to post here. They have different names too, but generally we tend to group them up and call all of them "chaps".

Thanks! This is all very interesting because the chaps in the USA I believe were of Spanish origin too. I am not sure of this, but will try to find out.

Kerry W

Maybe they're a Native people's thing? Since hides were used by them for regular clothing?

caliber

when had our zamarros made! we only used 1, but then again! our cows where big and fat! LOL!!!!!

BigJ · Chaps

The chaps we think of came up through Mexico to California and then spread east.

I don't know if leggings and chaps were considered the same or not.

Armita--no hardware. Supposedly it was like split skirt. It was tied at the waist then a flap of leather folded down to keep in in place then tied around the legs with leather string. Traditionally it had some fringe. Nowadays the fashion is to have long fringe, but I understand the fringe wasn't very long on the original design.

Batwing--This has all types of artistic expression. This style is typically worn by rodeo performers and can come in some wild colors.

Chinks--I understand this evolved to become shorter for a specific area of the USA. I never saw chinks until I went to a few reining competitions. There's all types of leather tooling and fringe with this one too. The fringe has gotten longer with today's fad.

Shotgun chaps--this is what we would call the working chaps worn in Colombia. The entire leg is covered, with or without fringe. They also have all types of silver, tooling, etc. depending on the fashion. The typical chap worn by western show people. Sometimes the heel of the chap can get really long and you can't hardly walk in them unless they are rolled up.

Woolies--just hide with the hair left on. Usually goat hides. I have a pic of my grandfather in some woolies with snow up to the horse's knees when he cowboyed for a while.

Hacienda Radiante

Gee Felix, never would have figured you for shy. Twisted Evil

Candice, that second photo (batwings)... what is the rider wearing on his wrists? Looks like gauntlets! Love the 'woolies' but how on earth did they keep them from collecting burrs and twigs??

caliber

jejejejejejejejejeje!

I saw a documentary some time ago of a man that will shave his sheeps and the sheep hide will come out intact. Very interesting, must of been on the History Chanel!

BigJ

Marleen, I believe the woolies were worn in open country. I don't think there allot of trees or brush to get tangled up.

Felix, I went to a sheep shearing in Tallahassee many years ago. Very interesting! The woman spun wool and she raised her own sheep and goats for the wool. A sheep shearer would come once a year to shear the hair off. He had a circuit he traveled shearing sheep all over the country.

The wool came off as if you had skinned the animal. The sheep owner would then grade the wool and decide if she would keep it or sell it. I think the sheep shearer got paid in some wool too.