Tucked into the hills outside Lincoln, Ark., right near the Oklahoma border is Salem Springs Stables, home to Michael and Mary Pinkerton and their three children: Mary Kathryn Bryant age 17, Jared Bryant age 14, and Ava age 5. The homestead is 250 acres with a large valley pasture below the house nudging a gentle creek up against the steep hill that provides the backdrop for the tranquil view.
Michael has The Pinkerton Frontend Service in Lincoln and is mostly involved with the cattle raising on the farm. They have about 50 momma cows and an Angus bull that stays with the herd at all times. They also sell hay. After the last hay harvesting of the year they plant winter wheat for the cattle to graze on during the winter months.
Mary, on the other hand, is an avid horsewoman. They have 20 Quarter Horses with the competitive ones stabled in high quality barn stalls. Their competitions include barrel racing, pole bending, reining and team penning.
In addition to competing, she runs horse rescue operations through the Humane Society with the end goal being adoption after all health and temperament issues have been settled. Mary said, “These horses are usually as starved for human affection as for food.” In order to help meet that need, Mary has international students from the University of Arkansas come to the ranch just to groom the horses and spend time with them. “Lots of times these students have no experience with farm life and walk all over the ranch and even try skeet shooting because it is illegal back home. Many take pictures, especially those from China and Japan,” Mary explained.
Mostly because she loves horses and anything to do with them but also to defray expenses, Mary boards horses, hosts training clinics with renowned trainers and runs occasional competitive trail rides.
Mary’s philosophy about having the children do horse-related chores every day is insightful. She said, “I could force them to do the chores like cleaning the barn, but those are what I do to relax. Also I want my children to enjoy the horses rather than hate the chores. There is plenty of time for them to do chores if they have horses on their own places some day.”
Mary’s dream is to someday start a program for troubled youth that pairs them up with horses. She said, “Horses are great teachers. They don’t lie, and if you do something wrong, they respond immediately and let you know. Then they go on to something else because they don’t hold grudges.”
