Are you an ethically minded owner who prefers to buy British made as well as organic, natural and cruelty free products?
Bossy's Bibs are proud manufacturers of quality British made equestrian products. We also support and stock the British brand and British manufacturers, WildWash.
WildWash have created an organic, natural and cruelty free range of skin and coat care for horses and pets with, in our opinion, an effective flea and bug repellent.
Bossy's Bibs "Summer Essentials" features our Bibs and ManeGuards, WildWash organic, natural and cruelty free products: Whitening shampoo, Ultra Shine shampoo, Gentle shampoo, Mane and Tail Detangler and the Flea and Bug Repellent.
Bossy's summer Bibs and ManeGuards come in sun reflecting white. They're an ideal addition as a fly rug under garment to prevent summer rug rubs and mane loss. This silky and tightly woven material used in all of our products, ensures that even the shortest of hairs don't get trapped, therefore eliminating the prospect of friction rubs and hair loss. The material also benefits from being breathable, allowing for year round usage.
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2020 has seen some incredibly challenging times. Many people and businesses across the world have seen their financial situation change, the health of their family, friends and themselves, both physically and mentally has also been challenged. However, we have seen such amazing camaraderie locally, nationally and worldwide. We've become more creative and IT savvy and amongst the horror and sadness we've also seen a glimpse of how nature and wildlife quickly adapted to a quiet people free environment.
There have definitely been winners and losers throughout 2020 and sadly many charities are losing out. Financial uncertainty from donors has seen a severe drop in donations meaning many charities are suffering. Bossy's Bibs has always been an avid supporter of animal charities, so instead of running discount offers over "Black Friday" and "Cyber Monday," we thought we'd further tap into our philanthropic side and do something a little different in December. We've decided that a percentage from every sale from 14th December to 21st December will be given to charity. We are struggling to choose which charity will benefit from "Donation December" so we've put together a shortlist and we ask our wonderful customers to vote on which charity they'd like to see receive an early Christmas present. If you'd like to vote please go to our FaceBook page or email us bossy@bossysbibs.com
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Made from the same material as our rug rub prevention garments, these simple to use rein coverings are an effective way to protect your horse from rein rubs. They are light weight so won't interfere with the contact, are unobtrusive and come in three different width sizes so they fit most rein styles. Easy to attach, these ReinGuards also help to keep reins clean and grease free.
For more information on Bossy's Bibs ReinGuards, Bossy's Bibs rug rub prevention products and the full Bossy's Bibs range, please visit us at www.bossysbibs.com
All of our products are Made in Britain.
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There are many benefits to having a clipped horse but how do you keep the coat of a clipped horse healthy during the rug wearing seasons?
]]>There are many benefits to having a clipped horse but how do you keep the coat of a clipped horse healthy during the rug wearing seasons?
If you've just clipped your horse a shampoo such as the WildWash
Gentle Shampoo for Sensitive Skin and Foals is a good way to soothe and calm the skin as well as eliminating any clipper blade oil residue. This cruelty free horse shampoo "combines Aloe Vera, Marshmallow Root and Evening Primrose Oil to help soothe and revitalise the skin and coat whilst hydrating and maintaining the balance of moisture" making it an ideal shampoo for hot towelling between clips or after exercise.
For everyday wear, to avoid those unsightly and possibly sore rug rubs, a good quality and durable rug rub prevention garment is a must. Bossy's Bibs has been specialising in U.K. manufactured rug rub prevention products for over 25 years. The range consists of garments specifically designed to protect the areas most commonly affected by rug rubs, such as the chest, shoulders, withers, hips and mane.
Bossy's Bibs versatile RugGuard, not only protects the body from rug rubs but usefully protects the top rug from grease build up, therefore reducing the amount and expense of specialist rug washes. The RugGuard can just be put in your household washing machine (family and partners allowing!) and washed on a normal wash cycle. We recommend you wash the RugGuard regularly as this will help keep your horses' coat shiny and their skin healthy.
Bossy's Bibs rug rub prevention garments are made from a quality silky material which allows the top rug to slide over the commonly rubbed areas. As the weave is a tight weave, the hair does not get caught therefore eliminating the possibility of that burned hair look some garments can cause.
For more information on the Bossy's Bibs product range please go to www.bossysbibs.com or call us on +44 (0)1442 824033 we're happy to answer any questions and give advice on sizing. Bossy's Bibs is a family owned and run British manufacturing and retail company.
]]>With the U.K. experiencing some wonderful late summer warmth and sunshine, many of us have already clipped our horses and some of us may have turned our attention to the colder shorter days. Does the onset of Autumn/Winter and the prospect of rugging your horse fill you with rug rub dread? If so, Bossy's Bibs may have the solution.
Bossy's Bibs is a family run business based in the Home Counties, with all of our products being manufactured here in the U.K. We specialise in equine "Rug Rub Prevention" garments from chest Bibs to an All in One for total rug rub protection.
If your horse is prone to rubs on the chest, shoulders and withers then our Bossy's Bib is the product for you. We manufacture sizes from the tiniest of minis to the largest of drafts.
For horses that wear a full neck and subsequently suffer from mane loss, our tried and tested ManeGuard is the product for your horse. Not only can it prevent mane loss but like the Bossy's Bib, it will help prevent rug rubs to the shoulders, chest and withers. Many of our customers also use the versatile ManeGuard to protect plaits and to keep them nice and clean whilst travelling and before competitions.
The hips are another area rugs can rub. The Bossy's RugGuard not only helps to prevent rug rubs to the hips but also helps to protect the same commonly rubbed areas our Bossy's Bibs protect. Due to the material we use in our "Rug Rub Prevention" products, the RugGuard is also a best seller for helping to keep the coat clean and shiny. It can also be used for protecting grease build up on the underside of an outer rug, therefore alleviating the amount of expensive specialist rug washes required.
For horses needing a full rug rub prevention garment then our All in One is the ideal product. It's a combination of our ManeGuard and RugGuard.
We at Bossy's Bibs love to hear from our customers and are happy to advise on which product and size is best suited to your horse. We also offer a bespoke service.
www.bossysbibs.com
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Firstly, we'd like to express our thanks for your patience in the longer than normal delivery times. The U.Ks mail services as well as worldwide mail service systems have been put under extreme pressure due to the huge increase in online shopping courtesy of worldwide lockdowns.
Secondly, we'd like to say thank you to all of our customers who were willing to substitute their colour of preference for a stock item in the product and size desired but for a different colour.
Due to Government Guidelines, the halt in manufacturing unfortunately found us in the unique position of being unable to restock as we would normally. However, as we are U.K. manufacturers and with the recent Government easing of the lockdown restrictions, we have slowly restarted our manufacturing process.
Lastly, all that remains to say, is a huge THANK YOU to all of our lovely customers.
]]>We at Bossy's Bibs know just how much, like us, you as horse owners love our equine friends and that we tend to selflessly put their needs above our own. So, we'd just like to remind our customers and followers that as Bossy's Bibs are U.K. manufacturers and as we are predominantly an online business, we are currently still open for business. We'd like to reassure our customers that of course we are adhering to the stringent government recommendations in doing so. However, in order to keep our staff and their families safe we have made some temporary changes to the way we operate.
Apart from our MD and the Bossy's Bibs fluffy four legged team, all of the Bossy's Bibs team are working from home, so all orders are currently fulfilled by our MD.
We'd also like to mention that we are always at the end of the phone if you have any questions about our products. Alternatively, if you feel you'd like some human interaction you can always contact us on Zoom bossy@bossysbibs.com. We do acknowledge that most horse owners prefer to chat to their horses- hahaha. However, with the current lockdown restrictions you may not be able to see or be with your horse as much as you'd like. We are a friendly team here at Bossy's Bibs, so we'd be happy to chat to you.
Stay safe and virus free.
Love the Bossy's Bibs Team.
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Plastic seems to be one of the most targeted environmental issues, but it's one of the easiest to address. We've all seen the devastating images of millions of tonnes of plastic waste which has found its way to the oceans, the devastation it is causing to our sea-life and the fact that plastic particles are being found in the seafood we eat. However, it's not just our oceans and sea-life that are suffering from this escalation in plastic litter, but plastic litter found inland is also causing major environmental impacts to our land based microbiology, animals and birds. Just by making simple changes to our lifestyle habits, we can vastly reduce the amount of plastic we use and waste. The easiest of these habits to change is avoiding the use of plastic bags where possible. Obviously, using no plastic bags isn't always practical, the amount of rain we've experienced here in the U.K. this winter has meant many soggy paper, material or hessian bags, with the goods we've bought suffering as a consequence. However, if we must use plastic, then surely biodegradable/compostable versions are the best option. If like us, you like the idea of a huge reduction in plastic waste for the benefit of the environment, then you'll be pleased to know that Bossy's Bibs uses biodegradable mailers. www.bossysbibs.com
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Many horse owners despair when tack or rugs rub their horses well maintained coat, creating at worst painful sores and at best unsightly bald areas. Once an area has been rubbed it can take a long time for the skin to heal and for the hair to grow back, so logically prevention is best.
The ReinGuard is designed to unobtrusively wrap around the part of the rein where it touches the horses neck, therefore allowing the rein to glide easily across the hair, thus preventing rubbing. Made from the same quality material as our world renowned rug rub prevention products, they are easy and simple to attach to the rein.
Bossy's Bibs ReinGuards are sold in pairs and come in 3 different width sizes 1/2" 5/8" and 3/4". To work out which size is the correct one for your rein, all you need to do is measure the rein width.
For more information on Bossy's Bibs ReinGuards and our "Rug Rub Prevention" products go to www.bossysbibs.com or call us on +44 (0)1442 824033, we always love chatting to our customers.
]]>You can find all your "Rug Rub Prevention" products at the Bossy's Bibs stand - M32. This year we have a new look stand and a new friend who will be joining us to share in this unique equestrian shopping experience, Plasmo. Plasmo will be proudly showcasing some of our products, but as yet, he hasn't decided what he'd like to wear or in what colour!
Bossy's Bibs hands on MD, Kathryn, is going to be at the show on all three days to answer all of your questions or to assist with any fitting advice. This year also sees Bossy's Bibs proudly celebrating their 25th Anniversary in British made rug rub prevention products. So come along and join the Bossy's Bibs party on stand M32 at Your Horse Live 2019.
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There was such an amazing response to the Bossy's Bib, it appeared many horses and ponies were suffering unsightly and often sore rug rubs. However, it wasn't just rug rubs to the chest, wither and shoulder areas that were affected, our customers were telling us that hips were also being rubbed and with the advent of rugs with necks, mane loss became prevalent.
Over the years, to address these other rug rubbed areas, several new products were designed and trialled resulting in their manufacture. So apart from our world renowned bibs, what are some of these other products and what are their benefits?
RugGuard provides full body protection, not only preventing rug rubs to the chest, wither and shoulder areas but also the hips. This rug is also used by many to prevent grease build up and help promote a healthy, shiny coat. A great under layer to help keep the underside of top rugs free from grease.
ManeGuard a hybrid of a neck cover and a bib, this popular product has proved extremely effective in preventing mane loss caused by rugs with necks as well as offering all the protection afforded by our bib. We also have customers buying the ManeGuard to protect plaits whilst travelling or to help keep plaits neat if left in overnight for early classes. With the increase in "Traditional Horse", "Iberian" and Native classes where manes are an important feature, the ManeGuard has become an invaluable wardrobe item.
ReinGuards these simple yet effective rein covers are unobtrusive and light weight so they don't interfere with the contact. Designed specifically to prevent reins from rubbing the neck, they've also proved useful in helping to keep reins clean and free of grease where they touch the neck. They also make an ideal gift for any horse owning friend or family member!
For 25 years Bossy's Bibs is proud to be supporting British manufacturing as all of our products are made in Britain and we are incredibly proud to be supporting our customers in their quest to keep their horses and ponies free from rug rubs.
For more information on our full product range please visit https://www.bossysbibs.com/
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If your horse is plagued by flies and is turned out in a fly rug which is causing rubs, there is a cost effective and very simple solution - a Bossy's Bib.
Our bibs come in 5 colours, with sunlight reflecting white being the most popular colour for use under a fly rug.
Bossy's Bibs are:-
Breathable
Durable
Made from a quality fabric
Made in Britain
Our bibs are used successfully to allow hair regrowth after a rug has rubbed. However, prevention is always better than cure.
No one wants their horses to have rubbed, sore shoulders which in turn can lead to infection, which is why our bibs are not only favoured amongst producers and competitors alike but also with those of us that just want our horses to be happy, healthy and "Rug Rub Free!"
]]>The easiest way to protect against biting insects such as horse flies and midges, is to rug against these bothersome biting blighters. However, for many horses, summer is a time when we as owners make the most of the longer, hopefully warmer days and enter as many competitions as possible. This of course means our horses have to look coiffed, with healthy, shiny coats. Unfortunately, due to the nature of fly rug material, your horses hair can become caught in the micro holes which can lift the coat causing friction burns and can in turn lead to bald patches appearing on shoulders, chests and withers as well as mane loss.Not ideal for competition turnout!
There is, as with most things in life an easy solution to rug rub woes. Bossy's Bibs has a summer collection of rug rub prevention and cure products. This includes our popular products in a light reflecting white. Our material is designed to be strong and durable with a non hair catching silky quality, but perhaps more importantly for warmer climes and hot days, it is breathable.
So if your horse needs rugging and suffers with unsightly rug rubs, Bossy's Bibs has a solution.
For more information on our products, please visit www.bossysbibs.com
]]>As part of our celebrations we have added a new collection to our website - the "Competition Collection." The collection centres around our desire to support UK manufacturing and our company ethos, "Healthy Skin, Shiny Coat." The Competition Collection comprises of our internationally renowned RugGuard, a choice of one of the WildWash cruelty free,chemical free horse shampoos and the WildWash Mixing Bottle. These products are designed to aid and maintain healthy skin and a shiny, healthy coat, with the mixing bottle minimising shampoo wastage.
Bossy's Bibs RugGuard is manufactured here in the UK and is made from a durable, silky, high quality material. Due to the silky nature of the material, it's main use is to prevent and cure rug rubs from the shoulder, chest, wither and hip areas, but it's also highly effective in producing a shiny coat.The material Bossy's Bibs uses across the range of products is also breathable, therefore aiding in maintaining healthy skin and a healthy coat.
We became stockists of UK brand WildWash natural horse shampoos as we felt these products sat well within our product range. Not only are they cruelty free which is extremely important to us but equally as important is the fact that WidWash products are Sulphate, Paraben, PEG, Phosphate, Petrochemical and Phthalate free. The lack of harsh chemicals is not only good news for your horse but also for you and the environment. We stock three different WildWash natural horse shampoos aimed at different colour coats and sensitive skin.
Both Bossy's Bibs RugGuard and WildWash natural horse shampoo are the perfect partners to aid and enhance the integrity of your horses skin and coat. For more information please visit www.bossysbibs.com
]]>It is with great pride that for a quarter of a century we have been supporting UK manufacturing and retailing rug rub prevention products. The initial need for rug rub prevention products was identified by Bossy’s Bibs founder and owner of New Forest pony, Priory Bossy Boots, whose rug rubs were ruining his coat and affecting his showing career. The success of the prototype bib on Bossy Boots now healthy, rub free, shiny coat meant the Bossy’s Bib became our launch product with it quickly becoming a world renowned yard staple. Over the last 25 years, we are proud to say we have a loyal customer following, which we attribute to our quality manufacturing and material, and of course to our customer service and now multiple rug rub prevention products.
So, to say thank you to all of our lovely customers past present and future we will be running a series of promotions and fun competitions throughout the summer. We will also have a pop up stand at a few events at Bury Farm Equestrian Centre and will be holding a Birthday celebration at RB Equestrian. All will be revealed on our social media pages. For more information on our full product range please go to www.bossysbibs.com
]]>WildWash are very proud of the ingredients they use: Yarrow, Angelica Leaf, Calendula and Nettle to form the base of our shampoos, as we believe they have qualities that will benefit all horses. Other ingredients we use throughout our range are Organic Aloe Vera, Neem, Sea Kelp and Evening Primrose Oil.
]]>You've seen the pictures of the gorgeous Connemara Rupert and stunning Spanish Dessi with their bright white coats, courtesy of WildWash Whitening Shampoo. So, we decided to wash the handsome Bisto in the Ultra Shine shampoo as he's dark brown and currently a bit dirty from his favourite past time of outdoor living and eating grass! As he's a bit of a fidgety, please himself type character we couldn't give you an amusing video but we could give you a step by step photo diary as he did stay still long enough to snap a few pictures! The WildWash shampoo and mixing bottle were quite happy to stay still and be photographed - hehe!
Step 1
Buy Ultra Shine Shampoo and Mixing Bottle
Step 2
Pour Ultra Shine Shampoo up to the lower line on the mixing bottle.
Step 3
Add water up to the top line on mixing bottle.
Step 4
Find one grumpy, disgruntled, dirty and dusty horse.
Step 5
Wet reluctant horse all over and then using the shampoo mixture in the mixing bottle apply all over. Massage in, which creates a much happier horse - hahaha!
Please note, as the shampoo is natural and sulphate free it is very low lather which means less rinsing so less water usage - a win win.
It appears that horse likes the taste and smell of WildWash Ultra Shine Natural Horse Shampoo.
Step 6
Rinse off, all the while telling horse their "Get Clean and Shiny" ordeal is nearly over.
Step 7
Leave a now happier, less itchy, less irritated horse to dry and owner can step back and marvel at her horses awesomeness!
]]>Many competition horses tend to be turned out in fly rugs. This is due in part to obviously relieve the irritation of flies but also to stop your horses colour fading from the sunlight. Bossy's Bibs sponsored rider, Helen Newbold, turns her dark coloured horses out in fly rugs to help protect the coat from UV bleaching. Unfortunately though, fly rugs can sometimes cause rug rubs. So, if you need your competition horse to have a coat and mane in top condition or you just hate the look of rug rubs, what do you do? Do you leave them without a fly rug at the mercy of the flies and UV bleaching or do you rug and put up with the rug rubs and rubbed out mane?Neither is the answer!
Bossy's Bibs has been manufacturing rub rub prevention products for 25 years here in the UK. Our much loved Bibs come in many sizes from ones to fit Minis to ones that fit the largest of horse. Our bibs protect your horses shoulders, chest and withers from rug rubs. Our ManeGuards protect everything our world renowned bibs protect but they also help protect rugs with necks from rubbing the mane out too, making plaiting easier and, lets face it, we all want neat, regular sized plaits. Our products are made from a quality breathable material and they also come in a reflective summer white so your horse shouldn't get hot whilst enjoying some quality field and grass munching time!
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Not only do we have to decide which rug is best for the days weather, many of us, me included, have a vast wardrobe for our horse worth far more than our own wardrobe. My poor long suffering husband doesn’t have a clue as to how many rugs my horse has! There are times he mentions he hasn’t seen a particular rug (because it’s new) I always casually say, “What that old thing, surely you’ve seen it before….” much as I do when I've bout a new outfit- hahaha. I have no idea why I feel I have to bend the truth except to say, my horse has so many rugs I daren’t let him know just how many.
So, with this vast, expensive wardrobe of rugs, you’d like to hope that they don’t rub your horse creating unsightly areas where the hair has rubbed away or even worse, horror of horrors, you’d like to hope they don’t rub your horses beautiful mane out! Unfortunately for us, no matter how much you pay for a rug, some will still rub. So if you don’t like your horse looking unkempt with bald patches or parading around with a frizzy mane, what do you do about it?
Luckily Bossy’s Bibs has a solution to various rug rub issues. With 25 years of experience in manufacturing rug rub prevention products here in the UK and distributing worldwide, we have a product to suit your horse’s requirements. One of our best selling products, Bossy’s Bib, prevents rubs to the shoulder, chest and wither areas. Bossy’s ManeGuard, not only prevents rubs to the areas the bib protects, but it helps smooth the mane, prevent mane loss, helps in allowing manes to grow back and is fabulous at keeping plaits neat and tidy whilst travelling. The Bossy’s RugGuard not only helps prevent rug rubs to the wither, chest, shoulder and hip areas, it also helps keep your horses coat shiny and prevents grease build up on top rugs, therefore reducing the amount of times your top rug needs washing and ultimately has to ruin your washing machine!
For more information on our rug rub prevention products, please visit us at www.bossysbibs.com
]]>Bossy's Bibs are stockist for WildWash natural equine shampoos as they contain no nasty chemicals that are toxic for your horse or the environment. This brand of shampoo is free from Parabens, Phthalates, Phosphates, Petrochemicals, Sulphates or PEG’s. WildWash products engage with our natural abundance of flora and botanicals and intelligently and honestly utilise their natural, healing and enriching properties to work perfectly with your pet’s sensitive skin. The team at Bossy's Bibs have all seen fantastic results using the WildWash equine shampoos, this coupled with the fact they are natural and British made fitted with our company ethos hence why we became stockists. So which shampoos do we currently stock? We stock three different shampoos, one for darker horses, one for greys, palominos and white horses and one for sensitive skin and foals.
https://www.bossysbibs.com/collections/wild-wash-products
The ideal partner for the WildWash shampoos are Bossy's Bibs Waterproof CleanCuffs. These wonderful cuffs help to keep your sleeves dry whilst washing your horse, they are also invaluable in keeping your competition jacket/shirt sleeves clean from dirt/muck/slobber and are small enough to pop into a pocket when not in use. We also find them brilliant when cleaning out buckets and water troughs and when cleaning cars, trailers and lorries.
Any product that makes life easier and reduces the time spent in competition preparation is always going to be a big hit. The Bossy’s Bibs big hitters, used and endorsed by both professional and amateur show horse and competition horse producers certainly help to keep your horses coat in top condition, we even have a product to help keep the sleeves of your show jackets clean too.
These wonderful under rugs are ideal for maintaining a fantastically shiny coat all year round, with the added bonus of preventing rug rubs which is at the core of Bossy’s Bibs products. Many show producers also use the RugGuard after bathing the horse to help keep the coat lying flat and then by leaving it on overnight and whilst travelling will ultimately produce a dazzling show shine.
Many horses suffer from rein rubs, especially when clipped or when sporting their fine summer coat. The ReinGuards, see previous blog, do exactly what you’d expect, they protect the neck from rein rubs. Coming in different sizes to fit most rein widths so they stay neatly in place, these lightweight guards don’t interfere with the contact like some other rein guard products as they don’t move or bounce with the gaits.
Does your horse like to rub his face and mouth on your competition jacket leaving makeup and slobber marks on your jacket sleeves? Are you fed up with constantly having to get your jacket dry cleaned and having to be organised enough to make sure you send it to the dry cleaners between shows? Do you dislike the way your arms get soaked when bathing your horse? Would you like to be able to keep your jacket sleeves clean when adding those finishing touches of horse makeup, oils and saddle soap? Then CleanCuffs could be for you. CleanCuffs come either as waterproof or non-waterproof and are small enough when folded to fit in a pocket so are also ideal to be used in a show ring line-up. Please see a previous blog for the multitude of uses for these amazingly practical cuffs.
If you’d like further information on these products or on any of our other products, please visit www.bossysbibs.com
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As with all of Bossy’s Bibs products, the ReinGuards are UK made. They simply attach to your reins with a Velcro strip and are made from the same quality material as our world renowned bibs. Unlike some other rein covers, the Bossy’s ReinGuards are unobtrusive, light weight and do not slip/move/slide, so stay neatly in place without the need for martingale stops, rubber bands or sticky tape which of course defeats the purpose of rein covers. Coming in different widths to accommodate various rein sizes the ReinGuards do not interfere with that all important connection and contact between you and your horse, as they are so light weight, neat fitting and unobtrusive. Another positive for these protective rein covers is they help keep grease off of your reins – less cleaning is surely a good thing!
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Woohoo, help is here in the form of Bossy’s Bibs CleanCuffs. These clever, Cuffs are designed to be worn over your garment sleeves and they are simply brilliant! Bossy’s Bibs have given us two options, waterproof or non waterproof and these marvels come in regular and large sizes. Since owning these small but mighty items, I’ve found that I no longer dread or feel as cross about so many chores.
CleanCuffs are, as stated already, simply brilliant. I’ve only touched on a few of their uses but I’m sure there are many more. Perhaps keeping sleeves clean whilst decorating, oven cleaning, tinkering with machinery, the list it seems is endless.
CleanCuffs are this years must have item for those wishing to keep sleeves clean at competitions, shows and events. Ideal for a line up they can be easily removed and are small enough to fit into pockets without spoiling the line of jackets – They Are Brilliant!!
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Horse ownership and horse riding is more popular now than ever before. Here in the UK we are very lucky at the amount of venues and organisations that cater for the amateur rider affording more opportunities to compete and train. Of course this is wonderful for those striving to improve, succeed, meet their goals and have a fun day out with their horse. However, there is a but and it’s a huge BUT, social media! Social media is fabulous for keeping us in touch with friends, following our heroes, posting/watching videos and giving us a daily laugh, BUT, social media is also at best responsible for us feeling inadequate about our achievements and at worse destroying any semblance of self-worth and positivity we may experience. Cyber bullying is horrendous with keyboard warriors often cruelly shouting their opinion to the devastating detriment of the poor person who’s asked for help or is just proudly posting about achieving their hard earned goal. Social media can be a wonderful experience for the psyche but it can also destroy.
With the increasing amount of time spent on social media we can also follow how well our peers have done. To me, it seems we rarely hear about the blood sweat and tears that have attributed to our friends successful moments and as social etiquette demands we are expected to gush positive platitudes, but in truth we are probably feeling disgruntled with our own bad day and possibly envious at their success! On a more serious note, the perception of our peers doing better than ourselves and our innate ability to forget that they too work hard for their cherished successful moments can lead to a loss of confidence in our own ability ergo the eventual need for a sports psychologist.
Social media is also responsible for our increased awareness of riding accidents. We hear about avoidable RTA’s involving horses, dogs attacking horses whilst horse and rider are out enjoying what should be a fun hack and we often hear about someone whose bought a horse that turned out to be totally unsuitable and either caused serious injury or a loss of confidence. So, with our increasing love affair with the immediate news on social media, witnessed, heard about or having experienced events which caused a loss of confidence and nerves, the pressure we put upon ourselves to succeed and to be as good as, if not better than our peers, it’s no wonder the use of sports psychologists are on the increase.
]]>Bossy’s Bibs are British made anti rug rub undergarments for your horse. Made from a silky breathable quality material, they are designed to be worn under any stable, outdoor or travel rug to prevent and cure hair loss from your horses shoulders, chest and wither. So, to be in with a chance to win this essential wardrobe item for your horse, go to our official Facebook page to enter. A winner will be drawn on 1st February.
Good Luck everyone!
]]>Why use Bossy’s Bibs ReinGuards?
ReinGuards are ideal for clipped horses, those with a fine coat and sensitive skin and conversely they are also ideal for unclipped horses, natives, traditional cobs and horses light in colour- I love mine!
]]>An ideal edition to any show box, they are designed to be worn over a competition jacket when adding the finishing touches to the horse at competitions as they help protect jacket sleeves from oils, lotions and potions. They are also invaluable at keeping horse make-up and slobber away from jacket sleeves whilst waiting in the line-up for the trot up.
When washing horses, stables, water troughs or modes of transport, by wearing CleanCuffs over your jacket and rubber gloves, arms will stay dry, so no more horrible soggy sleeves! They are also ideal for keeping sleeves dry and clean when cleaning tack.
If you know someone that likes tinkering with bicycles or machinery, CleanCuffs will help keep sleeves clean and away from oily parts. They are also ideal for children that like making a mess when being creative or by just being kids who will often get their sleeves dirty. With multiple uses, CleanCuffs really are this year’s must have Christmas present. www.bossysbibs.com
]]>So for all of your rug rub solutions visit www.bossysbibs.com
]]>There are so many different styles of clip, with some extremely patient and artistic people creating some wonderful effects, from turning your horse into Pegasus to a giraffe! You have chosen your style of clip based on how much work, how hot, how artistic you are etc and you are now having to rug your horse. But how do we keep our horse’s rugged and clipped coat healthy and if you’ve spent ages designing a unique clip, how do you keep it looking its best?
Hot towelling is one of the best ways to maintain a healthy coat and skin; I prefer to use Epsom salts in my tub of hot water to help withdraw any toxins and impurities but you may prefer a few drops of baby oil to add a shine. However, if your horse finds being clipped irritating, there are many products available to help soothe the itch which can be poured into your hot tub of water to administer with your hot towel.
Despite the many benefits of rugging, being rugged can sometimes compromise the integrity of the coat. Your horse may experience unsightly and sore rug rubs to the shoulders, whither, chest and mane loss due to rugs with necks. You may also notice a build-up of grease to the body of your horse. Luckily products such as the Bossy’s Bib, Bossy’s ManeGuard, Bossy’s RugGuard and Bossy’s All-In-One can alleviate these problems.
All of the Bossy’s Bibs horse wear products are designed to effectively prevent and cure rubs from rugs. The Bossy’s Bib is designed to primarily prevent and cure rubs to the shoulders, chest and wither, with the Bossy’s ManeGuard as well as having all the benefits of the bib, also helps prevent mane loss.
The Bossy’s RugGuard is an ideal under-rug effectively preventing rubs from your top rug but just as importantly using this anti rub rug helps prevent the build -up of grease on your top rug. This lightweight and hard wearing rug is fully machine washable and with the added advantage of having no metal is washing machine friendly! So with frequent hot towelling and daily use of the Bossy’s RugGuard , your horses coat should stay shiny, less greasy and healthy. The Bossy’s All-In-One combines all the superior benefits of our RugGuard and ManeGuard, providing total body and neck protection from rug rubs, please note this is a bespoke product.
All of our products are shipped worldwide and are manufactured in the UK using a specialist material providing a silky, protective and hard wearing layer. So say goodbye to rug rubs and say hello, to a healthy, shiny coat. www.bossysbibs.com
]]>Helen says “It’s always important to make an impression for all the right reasons as soon as you enter the ring. However most of the hard work begins at home and the actual day of the show is the culmination of all those hours of training, polishing, trimming, tidying etc. The weather won’t always be your friend and your horse may not be particularly on side that day but always make an effort for you and your horse to look your best. This not only creates a good impression to the judge but it’s also good etiquette which is a must when showing horses.”
Rider Tips
Make sure you practice riding in your show kit, especially breeches, boots and gloves - you have to feel as comfortable in the ring as you do at home.
Boots MUST be polished - not saddle soaped! Not only does it look so much smarter, the polish protects them against the wet and the shine lasts much longer.
For the perfect hat hair use a bun ring, then wrap the hairnet around twice and secure with clips. Hairspray the fly away bits down too for a flawless look.
Horse Tips
Plait according to your horses neck, for a fat cresty neck you want fewer smaller plaits with a thinner mane. For a weak neck you need to allow the mane to grow a bit more and use the size and height of the plait to create the illusion of a bigger neck. Quite an art to get it right but makes all the difference.
Finish off your quarter marks with hairspray to make them last longer.
I use hoof polish as opposed to hoof oil, either black or clear depending on hoof colour. Not only does it last longer, it won’t rub off on the joints behind if they brush.
Pop a bit of baby oil in some warm water and use as a final rinse after a bath to leave a nice shine on the coat. Use a shiny under rug, I always use Bossy’s Bibs RugGuard as this always results in a gleaming coat by morning!
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