Just Making a Mark
But then there is also that, some people just want to mark a spot. It could be their land, it could be someone’s land. But to put up a boot is to mark a place. Not too aggressively. Kind of like, “Mm-hm. I was here.”
The same concept as pink flamingos in the front yard or gnomes tucked under hedges. Some people select lawn ornaments. Others select their stable boots they used to shovel manure with. Choose your vibe.
Remembering a Good Horse
This may surprise you. In horse ranching circles, a boot on a fence post signifies a horse has passed. A good horse. A horse that was more than a work animal. A friend, companion, buddy for long rides and long days.
It’s not a loud mourning—just a little public showing. Kind of like saying “Horse is not out in the pasture anymore, but I remember.” And anyone who knows will understand.
A Mode of “I’m Home” Communication
And oddly enough, sometimes it is just a practical way of saying a kind of “I’m home.” There’s no text message. No note taped to the front door. Just boots hanging up on the fence. And anybody would acknowledge, “Yup, I am here and I’m around, please stop by if you need anything.”
Neighbors understand. Just like a flag flapping in the breeze, saying don’t mind me, I am not out running errands, I am probably working on the tractor, or sitting and drinking coffee on the porch.
Boots that have Worked, Done Work, and Rested
A boot hanging on a post is a lot of things. Use. Work. Whether it was a joke, a memorial of sorts, or simply something that was stuck up there one day and forgotten—it still says something. Even if all the somethings are half gone and riddled with holes.
So yeah, when you see one next time—just a boot hanging out against a sky and barbed wire on a fence—maybe you think to yourself that there’s more there than just a weird bit of county random. It might be a marker. A memory. A vestige of someone’s rough day.
Or it might just be a boot. But maybe that’s enough.
