BY MAGGIE BEAMGUARD
Insider Editor
The Seven Lakes Stables, one of the signature amenities of Seven Lakes North and South, has been unsettled recently by the resignations of three staff members.
Stables director Jenn Wallace, Assistant Barn Manager Brittnie Low and Stables staff member Sarah Wofford tendered their resignations effective Nov. 6.
According to a statement on Oct. 13 from the SLLA board of directors to the community, the departure of the staff members was a result of “unsuccessful contract negotiations.”
Board President Charlotte Kennedy provided more context.
“The purpose of the negotiations was to provide long-term sustainability for the stables through structure like the other committees on the board,” said Kennedy.
Despite efforts by all parties, the board and the staff came to an impasse.
Wallace provided the board with her own statement on Oct. 20. She maintains that a shift in management philosophy with the board and CAS, the community management company, not salary demands, were at the crux of the deadlock.
The board accepted all of the resignations on Monday, Oct. 13 and completed the long-term process that will be implemented with new staff.
According to Wallace, the new structure added a layer of bureaucracy which lacked qualified oversight. She believes this could be unsafe and unsustainable for the horses in the program and create increased liability for the Seven Lakes Landowners Association.
Wallace joined the staff in 2023 during a challenging season when the herd had been declared lame. Cascading problems that included an unhealthy herd and the need for revised safety protocols, led to the decision to shut down the stables, initially for a week and then for two months to allow the horses to heal.
The popular summer camps continued with a couple of horses deemed healthy enough by the vet to be ridden with a few restrictions following just a few weeks of rehabilitation.
During this time, the board worked on securing the proper insurance for the amenity, a unicorn among HOA’s in the United States, so that riding lessons would be able to continue.
In October 2024, the stables experienced another setback when seven horses started showing signs of mysterious illness. Mold and allergens in the 50-year-old barn ultimately were identified as the culprits. Remediation efforts restored the horses and the barn to health by the end of the year.
The board praised Wallace’s contributions to the stables during her tenure.
“Jenn’s exceptional equine expertise was instrumental in revitalizing the stables in 2023, establishing a thriving program with 10 healthy horses and a diverse range of offerings including: afterschool and homeschool programs, drill team and stables club, adopt-a-horse program, volunteer opportunities and community engagement events.”
All three employees were acknowledged by the board for the “dedication, professionalism, and positive spirit” they brought to the community. The board anticipated collaborating with them on a smooth transition.
Wallace expressed her love for the job, a sense of satisfaction regarding the progress made in rehabilitating the herd and an appreciation for staff and volunteers. She is also committed to ensuring the stables program will continue as seamlessly as possible.
“My desire is to see this be successful and to see the horses be safe,” said Wallace. “We all want it to be good. We want it to be sustainable and see it continue for many years.”
Wallace acknowledged Kennedy’s efforts at transparency with her throughout this process. Ultimately all parties shared the value of maintaining a civil dialogue.
“The board feels one way, and I feel another way,” said Wallace, who accepts that people can earnestly and respectfully disagree. “I truly wish them well.”
The board indicated in its statement that volunteers will be an important part of the program going forward.They thanked them for their commitment, teamwork and care of the horses. “Your hard work and dedication are and will hopefully be the foundation of the program’s future success.”
Kennedy met with the volunteers and reassured them that the work of the stables would continue. She also presented the board’s newly approved process to the volunteers and invited their questions.
The board agenda for Oct. 23 includes an item for information regarding a stables update. It also includes a motion to approve four members, Wendy Crespo, Heather Guild, Kim Szuch and Ann Turner to a Stables Steering Committee.
During the transition, the board said it will be listening to and making decisions in the best interest of the horses, the employees and the volunteers of the Seven Lakes community.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
