As a Home Watch provider, we want each of your return trips to Sarasota to feel as refreshing as the first. Our "Piece of Paradise" newsletters provide a brief glimpse into Florida homeownership, followed by a featured activity for your next visit.

What a great start to the year! After a chilly January (yes, Floridians can say that - no matter how the Northerners may scoff!), our family was very happy to spend some time in the lovely February weather. And we found the perfect way to do it - with some very tall four-legged friends. Admittedly there are pockets of horse-friendly properties within more developed Sarasota (Desoto Acres has a unique history, for example), but our activities this month required a small amount of driving.

Beautiful wood tables in the shaded pavilion, overlooking the lakeside obstacle course for Jumpers.

The closer of our two equestrian adventures was Terra Nova Equestrian Center. This is a newer facility and it is gorgeous! We told the kids to wear tennis shoes or boots, preparing for the usual mess of uneven earth, dirt clods, and horse droppings to navigate. But the grounds are meticulously manicured and all the pathways are paved, save for the few instances where they cross with riders' right of way. The pavilion is a stunning location to relax and watch the jumpers. While we didn't eat here, we would definitely recommend it as a unique brunch experience for entertaining out-of-town friends.

Numerous jumps had unique presentations, like the piano keyboards shown here. Sponsors, maybe?

The staff we spoke with were extremely kind. We quickly learned about cheering etiquette, and received a pocket guide to the events from the Show Office. Our biggest lesson was to get there a bit earlier - our 11am arrival only allowed us to catch the last few contestants. Check TerraNova's event schedule for upcoming competitions. They have several more tournaments in late February/early March. They also have an adorable play area for young children, and a small cluster of boutique shops and food trucks.

Our related adventure was to Tampa Bay Downs for some thoroughbred racing. This place was PACKED! They tout themselves as family friendly, although no underage betting is allowed (reasonably so). If you've ever read up on the Kentucky Derby, you may recognize the Tampa Derby as a qualifying event.

Our "Groupon" deal included Grandstand seating, programs, betting vouchers, and concessions credit.

Despite the crowd, there was plenty of seating available in the shaded Grandstand. Smaller monitors within the Grandstand and a large monitor on the track made it easy to follow the action. Electronic kiosks accepted self-placed bets, but there were also many employees available to place bets on behalf of patrons.

A horse and jockey make their way to the track.

It was very easy to walk over to the paddock to get a view of the horses. Some people used this time to make their judgments before placing their bets; we just liked looking at the horses!

Everybody's gotta watch at least one race from the rails.

Whether it be Monster Jam, a baseball game, or a horse race - Miranda loves an excuse to shout with joyful gusto. So we braved the sun for one race to get an up-close view of the competition and give that extra encouragement to our picks. If you get a little thrill from small-dollar bets, Tampa Bay Downs is a winner!

Additional Considerations

Did you know Florida is the third largest equine state in the United States? Here are some other ways to sneak some horses into your day.

• Sarasota Polo Club - a super laid back introduction to the sport
• Arcadia All-Championship Rodeo - this one has been on our to-do list for years
• Myakka Trail Rides - the scenery of Myakka State Park probably explains why the prices are higher than trail rides in central Florida
• C Ponies Horseback Riding on the Beach - our daughter participated in this as part of a birthday party and fell in love with the experience.