Who we are...

Amethyst Acres Equine Center, Inc. is owner operated by a husband and wife team with over 25 years experience in the horse industry and a tremendous love and respect for horses.
Mark and Debbie Burke 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.

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 20 years at such well known farms as Glorieta Ranch, Colonial Wood Arabians, Deerhaven Farm and Arabians, Ltd. For the last 15 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.

Debbie Burke takes care of the business side of Amethyst Acres and assists Mark with the breeding, health care and general horse management. Debbie 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 horses. She has been a horse owner the last 20 years and has shown amateur in halter and performance classes.

Three other people that play a vital role in the success of Amethyst Acres are Brenda Hodges (left) Lisa Beavers (center) and Pat Woodward (right). Brenda assists Mark with the care and management of the horses and is in charge of the operation whenever Mark & Deb are away. Lisa assists Mark and Brenda and also house sits when 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.

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. In fact, the owners live in an apartment beside the barn, providing 24-hour security for the facility.

ABOVE LEFT: View of (far left) 10 stall, 4-stalls attached to hay barn and (far right) porch over front entrance of main barn; ABOVE RIGHT: Hungry faces waiting for breakfast on the front side of 10 stall.

BELOW LEFT: Mark & Magic take Best in Show at the 2007 Bedford Wine Festival CENTER: Straight Egyptian Newcomers Seminar RIGHT: Members of the Floyd County 4-H meet "Elmer"

Click here for directions to our facility and local lodging options...

Click here for our 2008 Schedule of Events..
Click here to view pics of Mark & Deb's 10th Wedding Anniversary Party.

Click here to see Deb & Marks "adopted" kids..

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