The Bougie Backstory

My journey with horses began when I was about 10 years old with a little bay Appaloosa pony named Rose Bud. What started as a childhood passion quickly turned into something more—I found myself in the show ring, guided and mentored by some of the best horsemen in the industry.

Mark Stevens introduced me to my first western pleasure show horse. Don and Brenda McDuffee took me all the way to the World and Congress with some incredible halter horses. Ted Chancey helped me achieve multiple futurity and western pleasure class wins with my first amateur WP horse. These remarkable people left a lifelong impression on me, shaping not only my horsemanship but who I am as a person. They’ll always be family to me.

About 25 years ago, I started making my own grooming products. Life got busy—kids, work, responsibilities—and I stepped away from horses for a while. Still, I kept creating small batches for my own pets and my parents’ dogs. When my mom was battling ALS, I’d groom her little Pomeranian, and she’d always tell me, “You need to sell that stuff.” I’d laugh and brush it off, not thinking anyone would really buy it.

Years later, as I returned to the horse world, I found myself buying grooming products from feed stores, beauty supply shops—anywhere I could find something that worked. After my mom passed, I spent a few years in a bit of a fog. Then one day, sitting at my kitchen counter, I sketched out a logo and said to myself: I’m doing this.

And just like that, Bougie Bums was born. From one idea and one scent, we’ve grown to fourteen luxurious blends and counting—each one made with love, purpose, and a little bit of sass.

This isn’t just about grooming products. It’s about passion, perseverance, and honoring the legacy of a mom who always believed in me.

Welcome to Bougie Bums. Let’s get fancy.