Burks Farms

06/10/2026

A Message to Prospective Horse Buyers
If you’re out there looking for your next show horse, futurity prospect, or future producer… I want to talk to you for a moment.

Because somewhere out there right now, a small breeder is standing in a quiet barn, brushing a mare they’ve owned for years — a mare they know better than most people know their own family. They know her quirks, her strengths, her heart. They know what she produces. They know what crosses work. They’ve studied her pedigree, her foals, her consistency.
And they’ve bred her with intention — not hype.

• They aren’t corporations.
• They aren’t trainers.
• They aren’t marketing machines.
• They aren’t sitting behind big-name banners and budgets.
• They’re ordinary people.

They are people who walk into a quiet barn long before the sun comes up. People who know every mare by the sound of her breath. People who sit on overturned buckets during foaling season, whispering prayers into the dark. People who hold a newborn foal in their arms and think, “Maybe… maybe this one will be special.”

And then they pour their whole heart into that “maybe.”

They study the crosses. They invest in the mares. They breed to the same top sires as the big barns — sometimes sacrificing more than anyone will ever know to make it happen.

And here’s the truth no one says out loud:
Where do you think the next great producing mares and stallions that become top sires come from? They don’t start in the spotlight. They start in the small barns. They start with the breeders who take the risks, who believe in their mares, who see potential long before the rest of the world catches on. Not every winner produces a winner. Not every “flavor of the year” sire stamps greatness.

But small breeders? They build their programs on heart, on mare power, on generations of quiet knowledge passed down through hands-on work — not hype.
And while the industry chases trends, small breeders keep showing up. They keep raising foals. They keep producing champions — often without ever getting the credit.

I can name 10+ small breeders who have produced World and Congress Champions. Champions born in humble barns. Champions raised by people who never asked for applause — just a fair chance.

So before you write that check …… Before you pay the commissions, the markups, the finder’s fees… Before you assume the “big boys” are the only ones who raise winners…

Look toward the small barns. Look toward the people who do this for love, not for glory. Look toward the breeders who keep this industry alive, one foal at a time.
• Small breeders matter
• Small breeders produce winners
• Small breeders deserve to be seen — and supported.

Not mine but I wanted to share!

Pic for attention (AQHA stud c**t is available)

06/04/2026

Soon, this handsome little boy will go to his new home.

This is bittersweet for me, because I’ve never sold one of my favorite mare’s babies.

He deserves a great home, and that’s what he’s getting!

He’s goofy, lovable and smart.

It will be a sad but happy day when he leaves. He will truly be missed.

“Stetson”
❤️


**t

06/03/2026

Puts things more into perspective.

06/03/2026

And another one I will share every time I see it in our memories!

Dear Small Breeder…. I see you!

I see you pouring your heart and soul into those mares praying for a good heartbeat check.

I see you, missing family gatherings because a mare needs bred. Or one is about to foal.

I see you, sleepless nights hoping nothing goes wrong at foaling time.

I see you, crying because you lost a foal, mare or both.

I see you standing over that prize yearling, that just broke its leg.

I see you, struggling wondering which incentives to pay into. Because everyone wants them all paid into every incentive possible.

I see you, as you are saying goodbye to the old mare that started it all… wondering if you should keep going.

I see you, struggling on which mare to breed to which stallion to hopefully make someone’s super star!

I see you, smiling because it all went right this time!

I see you, smiling because someone called to tell you how much they love that foal you raised. And it is their heart horse!

Keeping going small breeder! Because without you, there are a lot of people missing out on that once in a life time horse.

❤️❤️❤️
Copied from Forked Horn Ranch

We are one of those small breeders. We work full time jobs, cut hay in the summer months and flat out work our tails off year round. Our riding horses are all back burner horses because we just don’t have a lot of time. Vacations? We get to watch friends and family go to the beach and mountains several times a year while we stay home and take care of things.
Am I complaining? Nope. Just stating facts. It’s the life we choose and it’s part of it.

06/03/2026

I will share this EVERY TIME it shows up in our memories.

HOW MUCH FOR A FOAL?
Let me say a few words to you, yes you, the person who sends a text to just ask for the price. The person who calls and hears the price and says “I can buy a cheaper foal somewhere else”. I'll talk to you too; the person who doesn't care about papers because I want “just a pet and trail horse to raise”.
No foal is “just a pet and trail horse”.
Behind every purebred foal is a BREEDER. I use capital letters to distinguish a breeder from an animal factory for lack of a better word. A serious breeder does not breed foals without documents that protect the integrity of the breed.
Registration papers are records of ancestry documenting the bloodline and enabling you to investigate possible health problems in your lineage.
When you tell a breeder you don't care about the papers, just tell them you don't care about the foal’s health, you just want the cheapest thing you can find!
If you choose to buy a foal from a reputable and quality breeder, this breeder is responsible for every foal’s health.
This breeder will skip vacations, miss sleep, and most of their personal time is dedicated to their horses and their well being. The truly passionate breeder, who loves what they breed, puts all of their time into it. Not only for foals that are sold, but also for every customer who owns a piece of their heart and is now a member of their large family. Breeders worry about their babies after leaving and will take them back without question.
A breeder will get his hands dirty, often covered in everything that comes with birth. Because that's what life is all about... in the midst of birth and death is life. The wheel that keeps spinning. A breeder conducts ultrasounds, analytics, emergency vet calls, vaccinations, registrations, researches pedigrees, deworming, hoof trims and provides the base start for the future of the foal in handling, trailering and bathing.
Last but not least, a breeder CHOOSES the family who is lucky enough to have one of their foals. Yes, you read correctly. A real breeder chooses who they sell to.
There really is no compensation that can offset the investment a breeder has made.
A good breeder has other criteria for those who want to continue their bloodline, why? Because breeding isn't a responsibility to take lightly, it's a lifestyle choice reserved ONLY for the few devoted people willing to sacrifice.
Since a foal is never “just a pet” he/she is the legacy of the breeder, a little boy's best friend, a caretaker of a little girl, therapy for the elderly, a member of the family, someone's whole world!
Partially written by: Sr. Eduardo Loredo Muller
Translated into English by: Angel Sophia Nogga
Modified for foals by: Stacey Mugrage
COPY AND ADD TO YOUR PAGE WITH YOUR OWN PICTURE.
Worth sharing with so much truth in this article. Responsible breeding and possession of several horses is a lifestyle and commitment many cannot understand.
7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Our lives revolve around the horses!

06/02/2026

We were honored to be able to watch Rumor in a local show recently.

What a beautiful mare she is!

And speed???? That little girl was consistently on top of all her events!!!

Proud breeder moment. To Brian, she will always be the one that got away….