Lake Padgett Estates Riding Club

Investing in Education = Investing in Our Horses 🐴

This week, Mykel and Angel had the opportunity to attend the University of Florida’s Annual Healthy Horse Conference. Events like these are a great reminder that no matter how long you’ve owned horses, there’s always something new to learn.
The equine industry is constantly evolving with new research, emerging diseases, improved treatment options, and updated recommendations for horse care. Staying educated helps us provide the best possible environment for every horse in our community.

Some of the important topics discussed included:

• Emerging and reportable equine diseases and why early recognition and reporting are critical to protecting our local horse population.
• Vaccination protocols and the importance of working with your veterinarian to keep each horse appropriately protected based on their individual risk.
• Parasite control and responsible deworming practices to help prevent resistance.
• Biosecurity measures that reduce the spread of contagious illnesses between horses.
• Proper nutrition, dental care, hoof care, and routine wellness exams as the foundation of lifelong health.
• Wound management and the importance of checking horses daily for cuts, swelling, or signs of infection.
• Fly and insect control, along with current concerns regarding emerging threats such as the New World screwworm.
• Emergency preparedness and recognizing early signs of illness before they become serious.

As horse owners and caretakers, we all play an important role in protecting not only our own horses but the entire equine community. Promptly reporting unusual illnesses to your veterinarian, maintaining current vaccinations, practicing good barn hygiene, and following sound management practices all help reduce the spread of disease.
We’re excited to bring what we learned back to our barn and continue creating a healthy, safe, and informed environment for both horses and their owners.
Healthy horses begin with knowledgeable horse people.
Thank you to the University of Florida 🐊 for providing an outstanding educational conference, and thank you to everyone who is committed to lifelong learning in the equine industry.

Lake Padgett Riding Club would like to introduce our newest barn member, Rose aka Rosie. Owned by Mykel and Susan Tomlinson. She is a beautiful paint horse located in the big barn. ❤️🐴 Welcome to the stables Rose!

The Lake Padgett Stables would like to thank Girl Scout Troop # 50112 for helping us implement our kindness rock garden. Also thank you to Cherie Cunningham, one of our Lake Padgett neighbors for adding several colorful and beautiful works of art to the garden. Thank you Sol Nicoletti and fellow barn members for sharing some equine knowledge with the scouts while they painted. The garden is located at the front of the big barn. 🪴 Their hard work, creativity, and caring hearts helped bring this special project to life. Each painted rock is a small reminder that kindness can brighten someone’s day in the simplest ways.

Our Kindness Rock Garden follows a simple tradition:
✨ Take a rock, leave a rock. ✨
If a painted rock speaks to you, take it home as a little bit of encouragement or inspiration. In return, we invite you to paint a rock of your own and leave it for someone else to discover. You can also simply add a new rock to help our garden continue to grow.
The goal is to spread smiles, hope, and a sense of community one rock at a time. Whether you’re having a great day or need a little pick-me-up, we hope you’ll stop by and enjoy this special space.
Thank you again to our wonderful Girl Scouts and contributing neighbors for sharing your time, talent, and kindness with our community. Your thoughtful work will continue to make a difference for everyone who visits. 💚🌼

Friendly Reminder 🐴
Please do not feed treats to any horse with a “No Treats” sign on their stall. We found some snapped peas, broccoli and other misc food items in the big barn.
Only give approved treats listed on each horse’s stall sign. If you are unsure, please don’t hesitate to ask someone.
Some of our horses are on special medical diets, have allergies or struggle with conditions such as ulcers, insulin resistance, laminitis, or digestive issues. Even healthy treats can sometimes cause discomfort or medical complications for certain horses.
Sudden changes in diet, even small snacks, can upset a horse’s digestive system and may lead to colic, gastric irritation, diarrhea, or behavioral issues. Fun fact Horses CANNOT throw up. Certain treats can also interfere with medications or carefully managed feeding programs.
We know treats are given with love and good intentions, and we truly appreciate everyone helping us keep our horses safe, healthy, and comfortable. ❤️

My favorite way to start the weekend.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the amazing moms in Lake Padgett 🤍

To the moms who wake up before sunrise for horse shows, cheer from the arena gate, braid manes with sleepy eyes, pack tack trunks like pros, and somehow still hold everything together ….today is for you.

Thank you for the endless rides, the muddy boots by the door, the late night barn runs, the encouraging words after hard lessons, and the unconditional love you pour into both your children and your horses.

Barn moms are a special kind of strong full of grit, grace, patience, and heart.

We are so grateful for every mother, grandmother, bonus mom, and mother figure who helps make our barn family what it is.

Wishing you a beautiful day filled with love, laughter, horses, and a little extra sunshine. 🌿🐴

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Lake Padgett Stables 💐