In the early 1800s the Mexican vaqueros designed the first leather britches called ARMITAS. These leggings were made from calfskin, deer, lion, goat, and other wild animal hides. The leggings were attached to a belt around the waist, and wrapped around the legs by leather thongs, and mainly covered the exposed part of the leg while mounted.
The most unique characteristic is they only went down to just below the knees. The armitas of the 1870-1900s, were step into types with a full belt, having no ties or buckles to cinch. In this time period they were used for work around the barn, feeding, shoeing, doctoring livestock, etc. Double fringe custom armitas. Heavier weight body for work but stll light enough for play.