Greeks and Romans utilized lower leg protection as early as 500BC to protect their legs from the cut of a sword and the vicious kicking that occurred during the fighting that took place on the battlefields.   These lower leg protectors were later called Greaves and were in use by knights and some soldiers throughout the middle ages.

Spanish Conquistadors brought their version, polainas or high top botas, when exploring into South America. The migration into Mexico and adaptation by the Caballeros and Vaqueros soon made its way to the American Cowboys in the southwest.