By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
Foundational to Seven Lakes is the pastoral setting of the red barn and stables enjoyed by drivers on Seven Lakes Drive. The unique amenity of the Seven Lakes Landowners Association is poised to enter a new chapter under the leadership of Stables Manager Karlie Kivett.
On the job since the end of October, Kivett is laying the groundwork for a strong and sustainable future for the horses, riders and community at large. With riding programs temporarily paused through Dec. 20, she has focused on organizing policies, programs and routines for the horses.
A Servant’s Heart
Kivett’s immersion into all things equestrian began during her childhood on Long Island and continued through her high school years at the O’Neal School. As a teenager, she began to focus on barrel racing and natural horsemanship. She competed in National Barrel Horse Association events and briefly in high school rodeo.
Her family purchased 40 acres of land in Jackson Springs in 2006 and has always had horses. “At one point we had 10 horses at once,” she said. Some they boarded and others they owned.
Teaching also became an interest of hers. “That was like my side hustle,” she said, “but really, it was just fun.”
At 27, she has amassed a variety of work experience, particularly jobs that are “hands on.”
Drawing on experience from her mother’s business, Kivett embraced her entrepreneurial spirit by launching her own house cleaning business, “Karlie’s Cleaning Solutions.”
She went to basic law enforcement training in 2019 and serves as an officer with the Robbins Police Department. That experience has taught her about the need for discipline, clear communication and documentation. She applies these skills through her meticulous approach to the details of the stables.
For Kivett, the horses, cleaning and police work all stem from the same place. “I’ve learned now in my 20s that I have what’s called a servant’s heart,” she said. “I would give my shirt off my back to somebody. And I love interacting with people and teaching and helping them.”
Clear Expectations
Kivett has implemented volunteer policies, employee procedures and structured feeding routines. Every horse has a documented care plan and every rider will have a record of their lesson history.
“Having a solid foundation ensures that everyone knows what’s expected, from volunteers to horses,” she said. “It makes teaching, learning and even transitioning to a new manager easier in the future.”
Kivett’s attention to detail is evident in the stables themselves. She and her team, which includes Program Coordinator Olivia Meyer and seasoned volunteers, are making sure the physical, educational and programmatic foundations are shored up and ready to support the program going forward.
Fostering Community
7 Lakes Stables will begin offering apprentice programs and natural horsemanship seminars for all ages. “The stables should be for the community, not just the horses,” Kivett said. “We want people to come, earn and connect through riding lessons or other activities.”
Program information and signups opened during an Open House in December, which included festive activities, games, food trucks and hayrides to foster that sense of community and an appreciation for what the stables can offer.
Those offerings will include Sensitive Souls, a welcoming community for people of all ages who feel deeply and value meaningful connection and tranquility with horses, nature and other people; a new United States Pony Club curriculum which teaches riding skills and the care of horses; Bridle and Book, a homeschool enrichment program designed to inspire young learners through nature and horses; and Mommy and Me, a gentle, joyful introduction to horses for young children and their moms and a place to connect with community.
The herd is also going through a transition with the retirement of ponies Nacho and Star in December and the acclimation and welcome of two new horses. Tilly, a six-year-old Morgan cross, is young and trainable. And her smaller size makes her approachable for children. And, as of mid-December, an unnamed 17-year-old bay horse will accommodate larger riders.
Kivett has also developed a relationship with the newly developed Stables Steering Team which keeps the stables and the board of directors in contact. They have been collaborating to bring some stable improvements including a new round pen.
Eye for Detail
In Kivett’s small office in the barn, a squishy faced cat named Darkness jumps on the desk. Covered in dust and hay from a misadventure, she shakes a plume of grit across papers describing Kivett’s processes and plans.
It isn’t glamorous, pulling together all these procedures and routines with an exacting eye for detail. And sometimes it gets a little messy. But for Kivett, this foundational work is essential.
“At 7 Lakes Stables, the foundation laid today ensures success for every rider and horse and for the community,” she said.
Her vision for the future builds on these plans. She sees an obstacle course as part of a trail ride, adult horsemanship seminars and community-oriented events. She hopes the stable will become a community hub.
Kivett sums it up in her new slogan: “7 Lakes Stables: where riders grow and community gathers.”
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
