About
Pine Manor Arabians has been in existence for over 30 years and is owned and operated by Terry
and Karen Brink. The beginnings of Pine Manor can be traced back to the childhood of Terry, who as
a young boy rode horses through the woods and trails that surrounded his father’s farm on 62nd
Street in Holland, MI. Terry and Karen built a brick home on the back side of that same farm almost
40 years ago and have raised three wonderful kids, several chickens and goats, and of course,
horses.
According to Karen, the dream of Pine Manor Arabians was first envisioned in 1978 when a
month-long family vacation included a visit with friends in Arizona. Terry and his daughter Kris
spent a few days traveling throughout the state and visited several Arabian horse farms. Terry
bought his first Arabian very soon after returning to Holland; a mare named Milfer Lady Leala, which
was bred and that summer delivered the first purebred Arabian foal to be born at the Brink’s!
Terry and Kris began to show Arabian horses throughout western Michigan. Kris was a “natural” with
horses and Terry encouraged her to pursue an equestrian career. Kris moved to Flushing, Michigan
to begin working with Jim Lowe of Lowe's Riverside Farm during her senior year of high school. Kris
worked under the supervision of Jim for three years before moving to Orange Lake, Florida to work
for Rohara Arabians, training under the watchful eye of John Rannenberg for four years before
moving back to Michigan.
Terry added the indoor riding arena and wash rack to the barn in 1986, and the Brink’s family
acquired two purebred Arabian geldings named Rohara Sevile and Samor Spectrum. The two geldings did very well; John Rannenberg showed Seville to Canadian National Champion and US National Top 10 in Halter in 1986. Kris worked with them at her father’s barn and Bobby Boggs of Midwest Training did the finishing touches to win the United States National Champion Gelding Halter with Samor Spectrum in 1987. These geldings and many more horses of Pine Manor won championships and Top 5’s at the local and regional levels over the years. In the spring of 2010, while watching a horsemanship clinic at the Equine Expo in the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus, Ohio, Kris reminisced, “This is the arena they won in, those were some great times!”
Today Pine Manor is more diverse than ever. Kris shows Amateur while breaking out the horses that she has bred. Kris and her dog, Yogi, can be seen at the local Dog Agility Trials. And yes, Kris has the same gift with dogs that she has with horses. Kris gives gives lessons and the barn is still filled with laughter and the sounds of young horse lovers enjoying their time at the barn.
Along with plans of offering a kid’s horse camp in the summer of 2010, Terry and his son, Tom are owners/operators of T&T shavings, providing bedding for local horse and cow farms. Tom and his wife, Kate, have three young children and live just up the driveway. On summer days these grand kids can be seen fishing on the pond or playing in the same creek Terry played in so many years ago.
Terry says, “It’s a lot of work, but it is all worthwhile in those moments when I see the horse and rider connect or when I know I am helping keep some young child on the straight and narrow by giving them a place to go and feel good about themselves.” The horses will always be a joy for Terry and yes, we are always looking for that next champion. Terry and the Brink family have seen a lot of champions, however, horses that have never won a blue ribbon in the show ring, but have given a life-long amount of love and honor to their human counterparts also hold a special place in their hearts!
Please feel free to call us at (616) 335-2236 with any questions regarding boarding, breeding, sale horses and horse transportation.
