By Maggie Beamguard
Insider Editor
Seven Lakes Stables enters the busy summer season with a new horse and a new staff member.
The newest addition to the barn is Maverick, a 13-year-old quarter horse who arrived a little more than a month ago. Stable manager Karlie Kivett said Maverick is already showing promise as a lesson horse and is expected to help with intermediate riders while also participating in beginner lessons and pony rides.
“He’s kind of a chill dude, like an old soul,” Kivette said.
Maverick’s arrival will help resident favorite Tucker transition into lighter duties. Kivett said both horses have the temperament needed for younger riders, but Maverick’s age and athleticism make him well-suited for more active lesson work.
Residents helped select Maverick’s name through a community vote. While Maverick is settling in well, Kivett noted that it can take several months for horses to fully adjust to a new environment.
“Animals are ever changing, They have their own brains. They have their own past,” she said. “Sometimes it takes six months for these horses to settle in and show their true selves.”
The stables have also added a seasonal assistant manager position as part of an effort to better organize daily operations and accommodate growing community participation.
Connor Hitchcock, a Moore County native and a veterinary bioscience major at the University of Mount Olive, joined the team for the summer. Hitchcock holds a veterinary assistant license and brings hands-on experience caring for his own horse, Lula, and Australian Shepherd, Delilah.
Kivett said the position was created as the stables continue to expand programming and gather more information about rider interests.
In recent months, the stables have moved to digital scheduling and has begun collecting feedback through community services. They have also started tracking participation in activities such as pasture rides, beginner lessons and pony rides.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
