Help my horse has gone footy

Footiness is a mixed blessing.  Now don't get me wrong, we would all rather our horses never got footy.  But with the barefoot horse it's a really useful early indicator of something going wrong.  And this is something that I think a lot of people don't quite grasp. 

Footiness is a symptom of less than perfect health.  Sometimes only minor, sometimes something more.  But less than perfect health nevertheless. 

This is a quick list of things to consider:

1. too much grass
2. impact on grass of change in environment (rain after drought, several days of frost, fertilizer)
3. too much sugary/starchy feed
4. sugary hay (for cool season grasses)
5. other non specific dietary upset
6. course of antibiotics
7. thrush
8. bruise
9. corn
10. abscess brewing
11. sole been thinned by inappropriate trimming
12. foot overdue for trimming

Generally speaking if you can remove the causal factor the footiness will resolve within days, although some will take a couple of weeks.  If in doubt always consult with your vet.

But please don't be tempted to shoe until you know what the problem is - you may resolve the footy symptom, but you won't resolve the cause and without the footiness to guide you, you won't know if your horse has been restored to better health.

If you are determined to shoe (and of course I'd counsel against) then only shoe a sound horse.