Our Instructors
Mags Lombard-Bergvik “Ms. Maggie” Bio:
I have always been, and always will be one of those little girls who would rather clean a stall than my own room. I began begging for a pony at age 2, riding at age 8, and my passion for horses continues today. My personal horse, Chief Chippowau aka “Chip” is my pride and joy, and will do anything I ask of him, from english jumpers to western speed events.
In 2006, I attended a weeklong clinic in my home state of Connecticut and earned my CHA certification to teach both English & Western lessons, including jumping. I gained experience doing so for 4 years at SJ Ranch, the equestrian summer camp for girls that I attended annually since 1998. Since relocating to Florida, I have become a fully insured riding instructor and continued to teach riding lessons, run camps/clubs, and lead trail rides at various barns in the Pinellas Park area.
Outside of the barn, I spent 4 years as an undergraduate student at Eckerd College, earning my BA in Philosophy, with a minor in Human Development/Psychology in May of 2010. Since then, I have completed my Florida state Staff Credential (formerly CDA) and my 40-clock hours as a birth through five-year childcare professional.
I take great joy out of teaching children to ride; and my lessons focus on safe, fun, effective, and correct horsemanship. This includes grooming, tacking, and all the rest that goes along with total horse care in addition to riding. It is my goal to inspire relationships of mutual respect and gentle communication between my students and their mounts.
I am extremely grateful to Alisha McGinnis-Laird and Pinellas Horse for giving me this wonderful opportunity to share my enthusiasm with so many great kids. I am currently available full time to teach lessons, as well as ½ hour “Tiny Trots” lessons to children less than 5 years of age, all on Pinellas Horse’s fantastic herd of school horses.
To schedule a lesson with me, you can sign up through PinellasHorse@hotmail.com
There are places in this world where a young girl can have a horse in her back yard and ride all day pushing cattle and playing in meadows. I dreamed of being that girl. I was horse crazy from day one. My first word was Daddy, my second word was Horsey.
My mom signed me up for riding lessons when I was six on the East Coast of Florida. I started riding English and rode in my first show. I won a third and a first. I got my first pony at Sunshine Stables from a boarder there. Tonto taught me so much about horses and the ground. I rode bareback for the first year, got a saddle and attempted to show at local schooling shows. It was really hard without an instructor to guide us. I remember my mom bleached Tonto's tail before my first show with him. I wasn't very successful but we never gave up.
Finally a wise instructor pulled my mom aside and told her to get me a real horse and a good instructor. She did both and we launched into the show world with a beautiful blood bay TB Gelding named Treasure that could jump the moon and a great instructor that guided us in the ways of the horse.
Since then I have owned and trained quite a few horses but there was always a common theme. I would invite the neighbor kids over and share my knowledge and horses with them. I had my son in 1994 and took a few years off from horses to raise him. It felt like I was missing a limb without horses in my life. In 2000, I got back into horses and 2001 I was certified through CHA. I teach both English and Western, beginner through intermediate. Today, I am the Barn Manager at Serendipity Farm in Pinellas Park where I also teach lessons.
Please book all lessons, clubs and camps through email and make all checks payable to Pinellas Horse. PinellasHorse@hotmail.com
