Our staff: Associates

Richard P C Coomer MA Vet MB Cert ES (Soft Tissue) Dipl ECVS MRCVS European recognised specialist in Equine Surgery - professional biography

Richard grew up in James Herriot country in North Yorkshire, graduating from Cambridge University in 2001. He initially worked in Morocco and his native North Yorkshire before completing an internship in equine medicine and surgery in Belgium. He then spent a short time working in first line equine practice in Kent before moving to the University of Liverpool, where he completed a residency in gastroenterology and soft tissue surgery in 2006. Since then he has worked as surgeon in York and Shrewsbury before a stint as assistant professor of equine surgery at Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany. He started working at Cotts Farm in March 2008, where he now accounts for the majority of the surgical caseload of the practice. He passed his European Diploma in Equine Surgery in July 2008, gaining European specialist status in the process. He is currently enrolled for the RCVS diploma in equine soft tissue surgery. His is interested in all aspects of equine surgery, in particular minimally invasive surgery, gastroenterology and the management of wounds. In his spare time he enjoys cycling and mountain walking.

Dr Shaun A McKane BVSc BSc(vet) PhD Dip. ACVIM Dip. ECEIM MRCVS Registered RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine - professional biography

Shaun got his veterinary degree from the University of Sydney in 1993, where he also completed an intercalating degree in equine respiratory responses to exercise with Prof. Reuben Rose. After a time in equine practice he moved to take up a PhD at the University of Melbourne, centered on the affects of exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage on racehorse lungs.

Wanting to continue his development as an equine Specialist, Shaun moved to Oregon State University in 1999, to undertake a residency position and become a Boarded Specialist with the American College of Equine Internal Medicine. In 2002 he moved to the University of Liverpool, Leahurst where he has worked as a senior lecturer in equine medicine, training veterinary students, and has become a Registered RCVS and European College Specialist in Equine Medicine.

Shaun has a wide range of clinical interests including respiratory disease, cardiology, ophthalmology and neurology. His clinical research at Liverpool has helped develop new methods for the treatment of headshakers, sarcoids and squamous cell carcinomas in horse eyes. Shaun now brings all of this training and experience with him as he moves to West Wales to take up a postion at Cotts Equine Hospital.

Over the past 8 years Shaun has also participated in the organization of over a dozen international veterinary education meetings in conjunction with equine charities such as World Horse Welfare and SPANA. These meetings in Morocco, The Ukraine and Romania are an essential component of the continued development of equine medicine in these countries and something that he is proud to have been a part of.

Richard G Shuttleworth BVSc Cert EP MRCVS - professional biography

Richard was born and bred in East Sussex before moving to Bristol to study veterinary science. He graduated in 2002 and spent 2 years in mixed practice in Hertfordshire. From there he moved to a large equine practice in the Midlands, gaining the Certificate in Equine Practice in 2007. He started work at Cotts Farm in September 2008 and is part of the ambulatory team covering Pembrokeshire and beyond. His professional interests include diagnostic imaging and internal medicine. Out of hours he is currently taking a crash course in changing nappies and feeding the baby at ridiculous times of the morning! When he has time, he is an avid sportsman and underwater coast-steerer.

Holly Thomas BVSc MRCVS - professional biography

Originally from the North Pembrokeshire town of Newport, Holly grew up in Llanelli, having moved to that area with her family at a young age. She graduated from the University of Bristol in July 2009, and initially worked in mixed practice near Carmarthen for her first year. Despite enjoying the challenge of working with a wide variety of species, equine practice had always been her true interest and she then moved to Cotts to complete a 12 month equine internship in 2011. At the end of her internship Cotts were delighted to be able to offer a full time assistant position in the practice, which she started in January 2012.

When not working or mucking out her own horses, she enjoys riding, exploring the local hills and beaches with her dog, playing netball and figure skating. Being a typical welsh girl she loves watching the rugby at the pub with her friends, or even better, going to the Millenium Stadium or Parc y Scarlets!