Over its nearly 50 years in business, Parkside Stables has become an institution in the Seattle-area hunter/jumper community. Thanks to its reputation for putting horses first, and consistently developing safe, successful horse-and-rider partnerships, the team at Parkside has helped hundreds, perhaps thousands, of aspiring equestrians achieve their goals. Although several generations of trainers have contributed to building the program’s esteemed reputation within the industry, an equally essential ingredient to Parkside’s longevity and success lies in the dedication of its owner and founder, Vicki Bergevin.

“Vicki is an amazing lady,” said Pattie Sciola, 77, who has been a Parkside client since 1975. “She has been through so much in terms of keeping that barn together. Parkside is one of the major communities in my life, outside of my family and church.

“[The people at Parkside] worry about me; they watch over me, and I really appreciate that,” she continued.

What is somewhat ironic is that when Bergevin purchased the three-acre property in Bellevue, Washington, that would become Parkside in 1970, she was simply looking for a home for her family and their horses and had no aspirations of operating a commercial boarding and training facility. The mother of four—Wade Pierce, Jill Pierce, and twins Amy Bloch and Paige Jensen—had begun riding and competing in the hunter ring as a “little side hobby” after the birth of her twins, and she quickly grew to love the sport.

“As the years went by—not very many years—all of my kids started riding,” said Bergevin, 80, with a laugh. “I was never a great equestrian; I got into it, but gave it up sooner than I would have liked. Once I had four kids showing horses, I kind of stepped back. But that led us into getting the barn, because we needed more space.”

Family First

Bergevin said Parkside’s transition from private farm to the bustling 50-stall boarding and training facility of today occurred so slowly she almost didn’t notice it happening. It began when local hunter/jumper trainer Michael Patrick, winner of the 1973 ASPCA Maclay Final, was looking for a base for his business. Bergevin invited him to use their barn, and he stayed for two years. Since then, other trainer—including Gary Henley, John Bowman, Anne Selinger Cox and Bergevin’s daughter, Jill—have all made Parkside their home.

In 2014, the husband-and-wife team of Morgan and Nora Thomas moved from the East Coast to take over as resident head trainers; Morgan grew up riding and competing at Parkside with Bergevin’s children.

But despite all of the growth and evolution over the years, at its core, Parkside remains a family affair. Though Jill has stepped away from working at the facility after several decades, her younger sister Paige remains one of Parkside’s assistant trainers, a role she has held for nearly 30 years. She specializes in teaching beginners and keeping the home program running while others are on the road. Wade drives the big rigs carrying horses to competitions, and Bergevin’s granddaughter Nicole Bloch has helped with training, riding and showing. And though she has hung up both her spurs and pitchfork, Bergevin is still actively involved with logistics, business management and paperwork for this full-service facility that competes 11 months of the year.

“In the beginning, it was a lot of physical work on my part,” said Bergevin. “We were starting a business. It’s much easier now than it used to be. But in the beginning, I was out there helping water and feed the horses and all that. Those days are done.”

But Nora notes when she first arrived at Parkside a decade ago, Bergevin was still personally caring for the horses.

“She was still out there feeding, rain or shine—and there was a lot of rain,” said Nora, 55, with a laugh. “We finally got her out of there but only within the past five years. She still does all the billing, all the paperwork. Vicki manages everything, just as she has probably done for 50 years.”

A Stable In The City

Parkside Stables is located in rapidly growing Bellevue, an urban center just east of downtown Seattle; without traffic, it takes 15 minutes to get from the barn to the heart of the city. The property abuts the heavily wooded and equestrian-friendly Bridle Trails State Park, which has nearly 500 acres of public land with 28 miles of maintained trails, four riding arenas, and an ethos where horses have the right-of-way.

Although this adjacent acreage contributes to a countryesque vibe, much of the surrounding community has become heavily developed, making Parkside a unique urban equestrian oasis.

“We are right in the middle of the city,” said Bergevin. “There are very few stables in the Seattle area, and the ones there are, are further out. When I bought it, it was empty—just a barn—and there weren’t nearly as many people here. But even though it has built up a lot, it hasn’t really changed what the barn is like.”

Turn-out space is at a premium—Bergevin even leases additional property for this purpose—ensuring that all 50 equine residents get enough out-of-stall time is a top priority.

“It’s really important that all the horses work, to some degree, every day,” said Nora. “We try to keep them moving and working almost seven days a week. Caitlin [Liebman, assistant trainer] schedules everything, so it’s literally a well-oiled machine.”

Unlike many show barns, Parkside is open seven days a week to better accommodate the needs of horses and clients, who often find unique ways to help their horses stay active.

Particularly in the summer months, some clients will walk their horses in the park. And when horses are away at shows, the pace of life at home becomes a little easier.

“This area Vicki is located in, she basically has two lots, and it’s a beautiful property,” said Nora. “How I would describe it is that Parkside is in the ‘Beverly Hills of Seattle.’ Virtually everyone around her has sold out.

“Parkside is an institution, and Vicki has always been very adamant that she wants it to stay and thrive,” she added. “It’s cool and unique. She sure is not a sell-out, and she could have been.”

Long-Term Relationships

Many of Parkside’s clients have been with them for decades, staying with the program through its evolution from a small facility attending primarily local shows into a premier show barn that regularly attends top-tier competitions from coast to coast. What has kept many of these clients around is Parkside’s dedication to a love of the horse, and a sense that, whatever may happen, they are part of the Parkside family.

Sciola’s long relationship with Parkside began over a cup of coffee with Vicki one morning nearly 50 years ago. The lifelong horse lover wanted to become a successful hunter/jumper rider before her rapidly approaching 40th birthday. She and Vicki immediately hit it off, and after visiting the barn, Sciola began hacking her Arabian mare Annie across the park to take lessons at Parkside. With Vicki’s guidance, she soon acquired her first hunter, Country Girl, and as they say, the rest is history.

“Parkside is an institution, and Vicki has always been very adamant that she wants it to stay and thrive.”

Nora Thomas

“I guess I’m the type of person who, once I grow to admire and respect and like a relationship, I’m committed to working it out, even during the rough times,” said Sciola of her decades as a Parkside client. “There have been changes of trainers and staff over the years, but the core of that program is Vicki and her family.

“I’ve gotten to know them well, and hold them as dear friends and very wise people in the horse world,” she continued. “It’s just been a close relationship. We have been through a lot of major life changes together over the years. I’ve watched the girls and her son grow up. One of the joys of being in that facility for so long is I have watched so many families and children grow up, go off to college and come back.

”In recent years, Sciola’s own granddaughters, Maria and Diana Genzale, 15 and 11, have also joined the Parkside family. Both young women have thrived under the tutelage of Jensen and the Thomases, progressing from ponies to horses, and both generations have enjoyed attending competitions together.

“What Parkside gives you is the opportunity to advance to whatever level you are capable of, and to demonstrate that level at a lot of challenging shows,” said Sciola. “But if you choose to not be at all the shows, they still have enough staff so you are able to take lessons and your horse is getting training back home.

“Parkside is a competitive barn, but they make room for those who are less competitive or less capable,” she continued. “They make allowances for the stages of life where you can’t do all the competitions or rides you might like to do because you have other commitments—because they are a family, and they’ve had their struggles, and they understand that.”

Sciola, who says that a competitive nature is “in her genes” is still actively riding and showing her 24-year-old partner Eastwood.

“What they lack in physical size at Parkside, in terms of buildings and the environment, they make up for in staffing and programs and services,” said Sciola. “It’s a community, family atmosphere, in a heavily competitive program. It’s like a second family to me, and it’s incredible to be a part of it.”

Parkside’s clientele has also evolved over the years. What used to be an adult-focused program now includes a robust junior community, competing in everything from short stirrup to the junior hunters. Although they do take some clients east for competitions such as Capital Challenge (Maryland) or USEF Pony Finals (Kentucky), the expense and logistics involved keep other clients more focused on shows affiliated with the Washington State Hunter Jumper Association, or the Desert International Horse Park’s winter series in California.

“We have all levels, and we go to a lot of shows,” said Nora. “We are unique in that we are trying to bring along riders and horses. Out here people ride because they really want to ride, versus, I feel like there is so much point chasing and stuff like that back east.

“What most people really want is to get better and compete and move up the ranks,” she added. “I think that’s what we do best: We try to keep them safe and moving up. And some of these horses, we’ve had going for years and years. We tailor the program to each horse, and we try hard to cultivate the team of horse and rider, and keep them going as a unit.”

Additionally, the Thomases believe in supporting young professionals. Their longtime associate, Tory Bova, moved west with them and is now a trainer at Parkside; Caitlin Liebman, Nina Vogel and Nicole Bloch also assist with training and competing client horses as needed.

“Nora and Morgan have always been generous about giving [the younger trainers] some of the really nice horses, which other trainers would keep for themselves,” said Bergevin. “They are very generous that way, and now these younger riders have become very good trainers, too.”

“Often, young professionals are given the rank horses that we don’t want to get hurt on, and that’s not us,” added Nora. “The horses who are difficult go on our list, and we try to protect the young pros. We give them as good a horse as we can get them. We pride ourselves on that.”

Bergevin admits that the future of Parkside will be left up to her children, and looking back over 50 years, she struggles to identify what she is most proud of.

“I guess I am happy that the decisions and choices I have made have, mostly, worked out well,” Bergevin said with a laugh. “My kids were raised here, and we are the only stable in Bellevue. A lot of future trainers got their start here, and some of our adults have been here a long time.”

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This article originally appeared in the February 2025 issue of The Chronicle of the Horse. You can subscribe and get online access to a digital version and then enjoy a year of The Chronicle of the Horse. If you’re just following COTH online, you’re missing so much great unique content. Each print issue of the Chronicle is full of in-depth competition news, fascinating features, probing looks at issues within the sports of hunter/jumper, eventing and dressage, and stunning photography.