Sam Sherrington - Osteopath

30/11/2025

Two meta-analyses confirm that repeatedly injecting steroids into joints is damaging. Something that should be given a heck of a lot more thought and client education before using it as an ongoing management plan, as is so often seen.

Two recent papers in the EVE Journal were punlished on the effects of corticosteroid injection sin joints. They were meta-analysis, meaning they took information from over 600 papers about this topic into account. This means the outcome of a meta-analysis is more reliable as an "overall opinion of scientists" than a single paper. Both papers show clearly that 1 injection in a joint (when needed, because acute joint inflammation is present) might be beneficial, but that more than 1 injection in the same joint will cause cartilage damage and degeneration of the joint. Think about that when you do "regular joint maintainance" or inject multiple joints without a clear indication.

Your vet should know this information!

09/03/2025

Beransa (Librela) has interested me for a while. I've come across various reported side effects and noticed a persistent reluctance to acknowledge them as being linked to the injection. This hesitation seems to stem from the initial claim that the treatment had no side effects.
This letter from the FDA is worth a read. The European database has been pretty interesting for a while now, lets hope there'll be more research to ensure it's only used where appropriate, and much more carefully.

https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/product-safety-information/dear-veterinarian-letter-notifying-veterinarians-about-adverse-events-reported-dogs-treated-librela?fbclid=IwY2xjawI6Su5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYGA04dRrzMmB4a8r-QXHyCkqxU8jgS2I-h8uzW6rzSgYPXcwt1L0rGZxg_aem_bSFq00Ya0PXz65n_JIzn-Q

The FDA has identified and analyzed adverse events in dogs treated with Librela (bedinvetmab injection).

23/12/2024

It's Christmas Eve already!

The holidays are full of joy, but for our dogs, the extra noise, visitors, and hustle can be overwhelming. Here are some quick, effective ways to help your furry friend stay calm and happy during the festive season:

1. Create a Safe Space

Set up a quiet, cozy area where your dog can retreat when things get too busy. Include their favorite bed, toys, and maybe a blanket that smells like you. Let this be their sanctuary away from the noise.

2. Stick to a Routine

Dogs thrive on consistency. Keep their feeding, walking, and playtime schedules as regular as possible to provide a sense of normalcy.

3. Offer Calm-Energy Stimulation

Interactive toys, slow feeders, or a puzzle game can keep their mind engaged without overwhelming them. It’s a great way to distract them from the holiday hustle.

4. Use Calming Scents

Lavender and chamomile are known for their calming effects on dogs. Use a pet-safe diffuser or spritz a light mist in their safe space to help them relax.

5. Let Your Calmness Rub Off

Sit quietly with your dog and practice slow, deep breaths or your favourite relaxation technique. Dogs often mirror our emotions, so your calm energy can help them feel at ease.

6. Keep Visitors Dog-Friendly

If you have guests, remind them not to overwhelm your dog with too much attention. Encourage calm greetings and teach kids to be gentle and respectful. If you can't keep an eye on them to be sure your dog is respected, keep them separated.

7. Play Calming Sounds

Soft classical music or "dog relaxation" playlists can help drown out the noise of parties and fireworks, creating a soothing environment.

8. Offer Comforting Touch

A gentle massage focusing on your dog’s ears, neck, and shoulders can reduce stress. Use slow, circular motions to help them relax.

9. Keep an Eye on Their Body Language

Learn to recognize early signs of stress, like increased panting, pacing, licking or drooling. An even more subtle one is suddenly 'blowing coat' - if there's an unusual amount of hair everywhere this can be a sign of stress. If your dog shows these, guide them to their safe space and let them decompress.

The holidays don’t have to be stressful for your pup! With these mindful tips, you can ensure they stay happy and relaxed, no matter how chaotic the festivities get.

Wishing you and your furry friend a peaceful and joyful holiday season!

13/12/2024

Good food facts for Christmas with our favourite four legged friends!

🚫🚫🚫🚫Christmas Warning.... 🚫🚫🚫🚫

DON'T FEED THE DOG/S🐕🦮🐕‍🦺🐩

Each year I read posts and warnings about what you can and can't feed your dog at Christmas time. These posts and posters are often full of misinformation, old wives tales and quite frankly some s**t people just made up.

Rather than focus on what is✔️and isn't ❌️safe and expecting your visitors to process that information, simply say to EVERY visitor (no matter who it is) DO NOT FEED THE DOG.🚫 Make sure you let them know when they arrive, advocate for your dog and you might want to say it again as you gather at the table, you will likely be repeating yourself for several days.

Some additional things you can do :
✅️Put your dog somewhere safe and out of the way while you have people over for meals
✅️Avoid creating a "scraps" plate or bucket for the dog/s, put it all in the bin
✅️Take your kitchen garbage out to the bin several times a day and especially after meals, same goes for those bins around your pool or outdoor area
✅️Nominate only one person in your family to feed the dogs (it may as well be you), and enforce the same rule of not feeding the dog with the rest of the family (they can lead by example)
✅️Feed the dog a nice meaty bone in it's crate or kennel, well away from everyone while you eat your meal. Take away what's not eaten before you let the dog back out
✅️Place snacks up on benches and cover them, discourage your dog from bench surfing and if it can't be trusted lock it somewhere else.

If your dog has access to a visitors room, ensure they put any medications they may take somewhere safe. Not left on the floor in a suitcase, as is often the case

Things you should 100% NOT feed your dog:
Chocolate ❌️
Cooked bones❌️
Grapes and raisins❌️
Onions❌️
Macadamia❌️
Alcohol❌️
Caffeine❌️
Mouldy food❌️
Christmas ham & cured meats❌️
Cooked/rendered fat scraps❌️
Xylitol❌️

We know that feeding avocado, garlic and mushrooms is safe🙂 but: as above, rather than get into the debate, simply enforce the rules.

Some other handy hints for you:
✔️ Know which vet in your area is on call for Christmas and New years, print the contacts out, put them in your phone and on your fridge
✔️Have a basic dog first aid kit prepared (especially a snake bite kit)

Save this link to your favourites on your phone

https://www.mosmanvet.com.au/pet-care/chocolate-toxicity-calculator

04/12/2024

Summer Holidays: The Secret Weapon for Your Dog's Sports Performance

If you’re in the thick of dog sports, you know summer’s heat can mean a rest from training and competing. But this downtime doesn’t have to mean doing nothing! It’s the perfect opportunity to revisit the foundations of your dog’s movement and set them up for a stronger, healthier season ahead.

That’s where Healthy Movement - Changes of Position: Complete Foundation Skills comes in. This comprehensive guide helps you fine-tune the biomechanics that underpin your dog’s athleticism. By focusing on truly correct movement through specific, controlled changes of position, you’ll:

Build strength, flexibility, and resilience.
Install correct movement patterns for peak performance and injury minimisation.
Support recovery from the wear and tear of competition.

Whether you’re prepping for the next agility trial, obedience ring, or rally competition, this guide is tailored to help your dog perform their best while staying injury-free.

As a festive thanks to everyone who has supported me and my biz over the past year, I've knocked the price down until January 1st, so why not jump in and take advantage of this discount and the break in competition to refine the skills that truly matter. When the season picks back up, you’ll see the difference in every stride, jump, and turn. Let’s use the heat to heat-proof your dog’s success! ☀️🐾

This is where you can browse products in this store.

12/11/2024

“Can I go now?!” - Bindii, bilateral cranial cruciate tear warrior, who disapproves of the pre-taping spray immensely. Almost as much as she disapproves of doing her exercises. 😅

05/11/2024

Yep, I’ll say it - If you can’t ride your top level dressage horse (or any horse of any level for that matter) with just 1.7cm worth of give in the noseband without them taking off on you with their mouth open, you need to step off and do some more training to address your horses dysregulation… I haven’t clicked into the original article to read the comments but I’m lead to believe this 1.7cm gauge is really upsetting to many in the upper levels… Come on horse world, what the heck are we even doing if the welfare of the horse isn’t the very very top of our priorities.

It’s finally been done.
As most of you would have heard, the FEI have introduced a noseband taper measuring device for Equestrian competition from January 2025 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

However reading some of the posts and comments on social media have concerned me. Did think top level riders would be happy? No.
However those with their horses comfort as priority have nothing to worry about.
I’d have thought that ANY way we can improve welfare of our horses would be welcomed by those who love their horses.
It would seem not.

Some of the ‘concerns’ I have read are outlined below. Along with my opinion on them! (Sorry not sorry)

- “High level dressage horses are too hot and excitable to be able to safely measure”.
*If a horse can be taught 15x one time changes, surely they can be trained to stand still for 30 seconds. Perhaps if they can’t stand still, they are not in a mentally sound state for competition?

-“The noseband stabilises the bit”
*No, it doesn’t. And if it does, you’re bit isn’t correctly or properly fitted if you need a noseband to ‘stabilise’ it.

-“Keyboard warriors are ruining our sport”
* Riders who ignore welfare and the science behind it, are ruining OUR sport. It doesn’t just belong to the ones at the top.
Dressage in particular is in the spotlight, like it or not. We will loose our social licence to operate if there is no move toward improving the welfare of competition horses. That will be income and career ending for many.

-“our scores will be effected by having these checks”
* Gear check happens after the test.

-“Horses will put the tongue over the bit”
*99% of the time this happens is when a horse is in so much discomfort from the bit on the tongue, they flip it over the bit. Easy solution- use and train your horses with less constant rein pressure and train softer responses.

“The noseband would have to be so loose there’s no point having one”
*The noseband can be quite firm and still allow the gauge to pass. This gauge is actually smaller than the ISES gauge that was originally designed after studies proved the negative effects of tight nosebands!

And more thoughts
- I’m just a low level adult amateur rider, so I have no skin in the game financially.
I understand many riders do. But it CANNOT come at the expense of welfare.
- Other countries have brought this in a long time ago, so it was always on the cards, riders could have started training softer responses a long time ago to negate the need for a tight noseband.
-Don’t come at me with ‘you don’t ride at FEI level so you don’t know.’ What I DO KNOW is the wounds I see in horses mouths from tight nosebands digging into cheek tissue. REGULARLY.
- I’m certainly no master with the double bridle, but the horses I have ridden in one…. Whoa… it’s a beautiful thing. Soft, responsive, so much more finesse can be achieved. Not for control. No need for the mouth to open when trained and ridden correctly.

I wasn’t going to put my 2c in on this- but I have too many cents to keep to myself.

What are your thoughts?

27/09/2024

Never forget that behind a vast majority of behavioural signs are physical pains or restrictions. We can simply make our horses do a thing, regardless of their communication, but only if we are happy to accept that we are not actually listening to them, and running a very high risk of making pain worse for them. 🤷‍♀️

We all know horses are supreme communicators within their herds, so really, we can’t know this and then pretend their communication with us means nothing.

Using movement as punishment (and why you shouldn’t do it if you value your relationship with your horse) 🐴

The idea behind most training we’re exposed to with horses is “make it unpleasant for the horse to do the wrong thing”. Very rarely do people use the word punishment to describe what they’re doing, in fact they often use words and phrases like connection, kind, communication, teaching respect, speaking the horse’s language, making it their idea, but nevertheless what they’re doing to the horse is perceived as punishment by the horse.

When you’re encountering a training issue, instead of thinking of the why, it is usually simplified to “here’s how to make the horse do what you want”, with no thought as to why its happening and what the horse might be trying to communicate. Horses are always trying to communicate with us, to ignore that, make a horse move their feet and only let them rest when they do what you want, is going to destroy our relationship with them.

Please bear in mind that most behavioural issues have some level of physical discomfort behind them so forcing a horse to work hard when they don’t comply is going to give them really negative associations with us and the training scenario.

I’m going to talk about a few scenarios that I have seen recently.

1) The horse won’t load into the trailer, so you present the horse at the ramp and if he doesn’t come forward you take him away and work him hard on a circle for a few minutes. You then represent to the ramp, you teach the horse that the only place he gets to rest is facing the trailer. Does this get compliance? Sure. But when you have a horse who is scared of loading, potentially travelling aggravates hidden physical issues and they already clearly have really negative associations with the trailer. How do you think punishing them for their fear response is going to make them feel? Not good. Calling this sort of training “confidence-building” is ridiculous.

2) The horse pulls a face or nips when you go to groom him, you immediately back him up harshly by jerking the rope clip up into his face all the way across the yard. You then lead him back and attempt to groom him again, if he pulls a face you repeat the punishment. Eventually the horse shuts down and stops communicating his discomfort. He is still really uncomfortable with being groomed but he is scared of being punished again and he has learned you won’t listen.

3) The horse will not stand still when you are riding, you cannot get a halt without the horse swinging all over the place, so you ask for halt, as soon as the horse moves you go up into canter and canter a few laps. You then ask for halt again, rinse and repeat until the horse is so tired they give up and stand still. This is probably the stupidest one I’ve heard. If your horse can’t stand still under saddle they’re anxious at best, if not sore/painful and we have a lot of work to do down-regulating their nervous system and teaching them more positive associations with being ridden. Cantering a probably sore, but definitely dysfunctional horse around for laps and laps to teach them to halt is counter-productive.

Behavioural issues are rarely stand-alone problems to be fixed, it is always more nuanced than that. There are always emotions behind these behaviours, usually coupled with physical discomfort. All you’re teaching them is if you don’t comply I will punish you and I don’t care how you feel about it, this shuts down any communication the horse tries to offer. This is how you create a shut down horse, not a good relationship.

If we want to develop good relationships with our horses, have horses who enjoy working with us and can find joy in movement, we have to learn to look at the whole picture and stop trying to “fix” behaviours like they’re not attached to a whole sentient being.🐴

Photo showing lovely Abbie doing some positive reinforcement training to change her negative and anxious associations with the mounting block ❤️

If you’d like to learn more about the way I work I have just started an affordable subscription option here, it is very new but I am adding videos frequently, you are welcome to make requests and ask for training advice: https://www.facebook.com/louisestobbsequine/subscribe

www.lshorsemanship.co.uk

08/09/2024

Fat. Coming into spring and I’m already seeing many horses increasing their body condition just from the start of spring grass coming through. The fat stores you can see on the outside are sure to be even more apparent on the inside, with all the ill effects of visceral fat that we know to be the case in humans.

27/07/2024

When the best of the best are parading around like this it means that it’s very easy for average Joe to take the approach of: ya know, it’s bloody hard to find a good saddle fitter and/or they said it fits fine even though my horse is saying otherwise and/or have you seen how expensive that saddle that might actually fit the horse properly is and/or all the reasons under the sun.
These Olympians have the resources and one would hope, the inclination to have their horses in correctly fitted tack with their bodies as strong and well developed as possible for the epic job ahead, but instead they’re demonstrating how incredibly forgiving most horses are so you can get away without it.

EDIT 1: English version below.
EDIT 2 : Ajout d'une photo avec beau dégagement du garrot ( adding of one picture with nice withers clearance). Yes that's possible at high level :) !!

Voici 2 concurrents des JO 2024, parmi tant d'autres concurrents que l'on pourrait prendre aussi pour ce post. Que dire ?!

Aie j'ai mal à mon coeur de saddle fitter 😪!

Il faut se rendre à l'évidence qu'on peut arriver à performer, à ce niveau, en écrasant le garrot de son cheval et qu'hélas ça marche 😬🤮🤐.

Pourtant avec une selle adaptée, ils pourraient être des duos d'athlètes encore meilleurs qu'ils ne le sont déjà ❤️.

Si seulement les mentalités pouvaient évoluer !

Non ce n'est pas normal de voir des creux autour du garrot des chevaux de complet, et non ce n'est pas parce qu'ils sont "secs ".
Les creux autour du garrot, c'est d'ailleurs anormal chez tous les chevaux, qu'ils soient de complet, de saut, de dressage, de loisir, de club,....A méditer !

‐-----------------------------------------------------

Here are 2 competitors from the 2024 Olympics games, among many other competitors that we could also take for this position. What to say ?!

Ouch, my saddle fitter's heart hurts 😪!

You have to face the facts that you can perform at this level by crushing your horse's withers and that unfortunately it works 😬🤮🤐.

Yet with the right saddle, they could be even better athletic couples than they already are ❤️.

If only mentalities could change!

No it is not normal to see hollows around the withers of eventing horses, and no it is not because they are "dry". The hollows around the withers are also abnormal in all horses, whether they are eventing, jumping, dressage, leisure, club, .....Something to think about!

11/07/2024

🐾 Exciting News! 🐾

Introducing "Healing Touch: Acupressure for Pet Joint Conditions" eBook! 📘🐾

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🌿 Tips on creating a soothing environment for your pet
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Your pet's comfort is so important, and I'm passionate about sharing holistic approaches like acupressure to support their mobility and vitality. 🌈✨

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Let's make every day a comfortable and joyful day for our furry companions! 🐾💖

Discover effective acupressure techniques tailored for your pet’s joint conditions with “Healing Touch – Acupressure for Pet Joint Conditions.” This comprehensive eBook prov…