Who we are...
Amethyst Acres
Equine Center, Inc. opened in October of 2000 and is owner operated by a husband and wife team with over
30 years experience in the horse industry, and a tremendous
love and respect for horses. The 47-acre equine facility, located in Buchanan, Virginia, includes five barns with 32 stalls, an enclosed breeding area, medical lab and two foaling stalls. Mark and Deb Burke are the owners/operators and live on site providing 24-hour security.
Amethyst Acres specializes in equine reproduction and serves as a stallion station and mare care facility for all breeds of horses.
Mark and Deb are dedicated to providing a flexible,
professional, customer oriented environment, focused on helping clients achieve their
breeding or training goals, or just having fun with their horse.
They are also dedicated breeders of Straight Egyptian Arabians and the facility is an Affiliate Farm for Arabians Ltd. of Waco, Texas.
Mark Burke is
responsible for all aspects of the breeding operation, as well as health care, foaling,
training, showing and general horse management. Mark is a graduate of Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree specializing
in Animal Science. He has worked with horses for over 30 years at such well known
farms as Glorieta Ranch, Colonial Wood Arabians, Deerhaven Farm and Arabians, Ltd.
For the last 20 years, Mark has specialized in equine reproduction and is well respected in the industry for
his success using artificial insemination methods and his patience working with young stallions. In addition,
Mark has foaled over 600 mares, has trained and shown halter horses professionally, and has worked as a
consultant to Saddlebred, Paint and Quarterhorse owners. He also teaches Equine Reproduction at the University level.
Deb Burke takes care
of the business side of Amethyst Acres and assists Mark with the breeding,
health care and general horse management. Deb is a graduate of Old Dominion
University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and a Masters of Humanities.
She has over 20 years experience in the corporate world, helping customers achieve their
business objectives, but her first love has always been working with animals.
She has been a horse owner the last 22 years and has shown amateur in halter and
performance classes.
ABOVE: Three other people that play a vital role in the success of Amethyst Acres are Brenda Hodges, Lisa Beavers & Pat Woodward. Brenda and Lisa assist Mark with the care and management of the horses and are in charge of the operation whenever Mark & Deb are away. Pat (Deb's sister) is the "master gardener" in charge of the landscaping and helps out with just about everything else, including coordinating and catering all our seminars. BELOW: And of course, the official greeters...Dusty Blue Cat, Doc, Elliott & Pumpkin.
Amethyst Acres Equine Center's 12 stall
barn was built by MD Barns and includes two 12' x 16' foaling stalls, a breeding lab and raised breeding shed area with phantom and breeding stocks, an office and tack room and two wash racks. There are also two 4-stall barns, a 10-stall barn, and a 2-stall isolation barn, providing a total of 32 stalls.
We have gone to great lengths to build a safe and clean
environment for your horse. We live on-site, providing
24-hour security for the facility.
ABOVE LEFT: Entrance on Springwood Road; SECOND: View of (far left) 10 stall, 4-stalls attached to hay barn and (far right) porch over front entrance of main barn; RIGHT: A common sight for visitors: Magic playing with his cone!
BELOW LEFT: Mark & Magic take Best in Show at the 2007 Bedford Wine Festival SECOND: Straight Egyptian Newcomers Seminar THIRD: Members of the Floyd County 4-H meet "Elmer" RIGHT: Mark gives a tour of the lab to the Rockbridge Hunt 4-H.
Click here for directions to our facility and local lodging options...
Click here to view pics of Mark & Deb's 10th Wedding Anniversary Party.
Click here to see Deb & Marks "adopted" kids...including the newest addition...goats, a mini & more kitties!!
Click here to view pics of Mark & Deb's new house.
In remembrance...a special tribute to Deb's brother.
Crossing the Rainbow Bridge...Cassie, Count and Boo.
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