The celebrated cowboy hat had its beginnings on the cattle ranches of America. Conjectured to be a descendent of the Mongol hat and the Mexican sombrero, the cowboy hat, as much as the rest of a cowboy’s equipage seems to have its origin in Spain.

The high crown of the cowboy hat allowed for free air circulation, while the wide brim (4 inches and above), kept the sun at bay and served as protection from the rain as well. A cowboy showed great innovation in using his hat. It could double as a container for water or be used as a fan. It could revive dying embers, was convenient to hail comrades or prod a horse into a gallop. Whatever its uses, brilliant horsemanship, excellent marksmanship and straight talking are synonymous with the cowboy hat.

The material used for a cowboy hat depended on the climate, straw and felt being the most popular. Southerners sported ones with a large brim as they spent long hours on horseback in the blistering sun. In the North, the deviation in temperature and the gusty winds influenced an alteration in the design. Heavy felt was best suited to these climatic conditions.

Whether straw or felt, a cowboy hat is relatively simple to clean. All it needs is a soft brush whisked all over to remove the dust. Always store your cowboy hat upside down, with the brim up to help keep its shape.

Over a period of time the cowboy developed his own style. The brim would be turned up or down; the hat’s position on the head could differ. Whether it was worn low down or tilted way back, it seemed to define the character of the wearer.

When a person walks into a room with a cowboy hat, he exudes a presence that is impossible to ignore. Makes you want to go up to him and say ‘Howdy!’