Lila Kilby: At Home at Balsam Mountain Preserve

By Britney Grover

Portraits by Tim Hord

Lila Kilby is one of perhaps few people in the world can say they have their dream job—even fewer who have found it by 30. Lila began riding when she was 6 years old at a barn near where she was born and raised, in Greenville, South Carolina, “and I haven’t ever quit,” she summarized. That passion led to finding a job—and a home—she intends to keep forever.

“I always knew I’d be in the horse world; for a while I thought veterinarian, but realized that wasn’t going to be the best fit during my undergraduate career,” Lila said. “When I graduated, I took a job as a veterinarian assistant for Palm Beach Equine, and we worked the Lexington, Lamplight and Traverse City circuits. It was a great experience, but a lot of travel, so I knew it wouldn’t be the long-term fit, as I’m a total homebody!”

This “homebody” found her perfect “at-home job” the first time she drove to Balsam Mountain Preserve, a private mountain community in Sylva, North Carolina. Now, she’s been there seven years as the equestrian director.

Did you grow up in a horse family?
No; my family is very bemused by my horse-girl behavior! My dad’s mother rode growing up, and she was a big proponent of my riding career, as was my mother’s cousin Berkeley. My parents were incredibly supportive, but it definitely wasn’t in the immediate blood. My big ‘this is it’ moment was when we were visiting a family friend who owned Tennessee Walkers in the low county, not long after I’d started beginner lessons. He put me on this great horse named Sunny, and we rode all over his property. It was amazing, for a kid from town who’d not even gotten to trot around an arena yet. I so distinctly remember the feeling of riding through the field; I think it may be one of my earliest memories I can still picture clearly. From then on, I was hooked.

What was your riding life like as you grew up?
I started at a great lesson barn at 6, moved to a dressage barn at 8, and then to a Western/hunter barn around 9. After that, my best friend’s parents bought land and built a farm, so I moved there. My first horse was an 18-year-old Thoroughbred mare who hadn’t received the ‘retirement’ memo, so we weren’t the best fit. We gave her to my vet, and she passed just a few years ago at a healthy 36, so she definitely had miles left! Then I got an angel of a little bay Quarter Horse gelding, and he and I became best buddies. I kept him through high school, leased him to a high school near Clemson while I attended, and then donated him to the Connie Maxwell Home For Girls, where he worked magic in their program.

I was never an overly competitive kid in any way, so I really just grew up loving the barn and horses, and while I took lessons because I wanted to be a good rider and steward for my horses, I never had big competition goals. My parents were A-OK with that! I had a great experience riding in different barns under different trainers on a variety of horses, and I know that helped develop the sort of rider I am today.

How did you discover Balsam Mountain Preserve?
That’s actually a funny story. I was in between ‘real’ jobs, working as a waitress back home in Greenville, and received a text from the general manager of a club I’d worked for in college with a picture of a business card and the caption “call about job.” It was totally out of the blue, but I interviewed April 19 and was moved in by May 1, so it was an immediate fit. Driving up the mountain for the first time I instantly knew this was the spot for me.

Tell us about your role at Balsam.
I got to Balsam in late April of 2017. The barn had been empty for six months, and was a total blank slate. I started out initially with leasing some horses seasonally for a trail program, but we quickly realized the benefits of reopening the boarding program to homeowners, so by 2018 we were back in business! Now we have a boutique trail, lesson and pony ride program, and a thriving boarding barn that continues to grow. As equestrian director, I coordinate the day-to-day horse care, lessons, appointments, etc., with the help of my fantastic team.

What do you enjoy most about Balsam?
The thing that I really love about Balsam is that I get to run a barn in this incredibly beautiful location, and because our members here are so great, I get to always focus on the horses’ care, health and happiness. The priority in this barn is simply to ensure our horses are as happy and healthy as possible; there’s no push for them to do any specific job, make it to a show or meet any goals except to have fun!

What’s your biggest achievement in the horse world?
I’d absolutely say landing here in my dream job. I’m so lucky to be able to manage a fun, stress-free barn environment in such a beautiful location. I think about how lucky I am every time I come down the apartment stairs to the barn to “clock in.” Curating such a special spot for our horses and their owners has been such a gift.

What’s your current focus in the barn, and what’s next?
Right now at Balsam, we’re focused on enjoying these mountains and keeping our horses in tiptop shape. We’re going to be hosting a few trainers and clinics on site this year, which will bring a fun next level for our horse owners, and even for a few people who can use the club horses!

What are your goals for your life and at Balsam Mountain Preserve?
To stay here as long as they’ll have me! We have some future barn expansion plans and want to continue growing and developing our program offerings in the future. We aim to continue being stewards of our awesome preserve, which will allow us to enjoy it with our horses for years and years.

What’s the best thing about your life?
There are so many great things, it’s hard to pick a best. From a barn full of fabulous horses to a great boarding community to the general club at large making me feel so at home in the neighborhood, and my uber-awesome barn dogs who get to be at work with me every day—and, of course, living in such a beautiful home. I count myself as one of the luckiest people I know!

What’s the best-kept secret about what you do?
I think ‘normal’ people would be surprised by how much of my job consists of watching the weather apps! Temperatures, rain, all those good things play a big factor in our day-to-day planning, so I’ve got something like four weather apps I’m constantly checking! The best-kept secret about my job is definitely my evening/night checks. Coming down to the barn after everyone has gone home, getting to go spend some quiet time with the herd—it’s one of my favorite things I get to do. And if anyone happens to come by and see me having a little solo dance party in the aisle, feel free to join in!

Photos by Tim Hord