O'Donnell Quarter Horses stands three stallions and currently run a herd of eight broodmares along their 160 acre ranch in Cardwell, MT. Each stallion is unique in what it has to offer to the program. O'Donnell Quarter Horses is very selective when it comes to their broodmares and has built their program primarily through the mares they own.

"Our mares represent some of the most successful lines in the industry, consisting of own daughters of Streakin Six, Dr Nick Bar, Fire Water Flit and Paddys Irish Whiskey to name a few," says Tim. "Our broodmare herd has an emphasis on successful barrel lines, but we appreciate and have some cow bred mares in our program, as well."

Not only do the O'Donnell broodmares have proven pedigrees, but most have been successful as proven race horses and riding horses, as well as proven producers.

O'Donnell Quarter Horses are offering several of their broodmares for sale, given their focus on campaigning the fillies they will retain. "It is a bittersweet decision to downsize our broodmare band, but all in all it will provide us with more time to promote our up and coming fillies, which we plan to retain and eventually incorporate into our broodmare line-up," says Tim.

"Our daughter, Amber, is currently hauling a Dr Nick Bar mare, which we plan on embryo transferring in the near future and our son Cody will be taking our two best two-yr-old fillies to Texas to promote and further train this winter."

Weavers Doc Ima Poco (aka "Rope"), the first stallion owned by O'Donnells, is a 1999 buckskin that is 91% Foundation bred Quarter Horse. He has a definite cow sense and has won several halter classes. Tim enjoys riding Rope in team sorting events as well as being his main riding horse on the ranch.

"Buying Rope was a big step for us. Rope allowed us to initially experience the breeding business. It was a definite learning curve, being a first time stallion owner, but it was a milestone in our lives as Quarter Horse breeders," says Tim.

In order to completely commit to producing barrel racing horses, the O'Donnells have made the decision to sell Weavers Doc Ima Poco.

"I never thought I would see the day that we would be offering Rope for sale, but after careful thought and family discussion, we have all agreed that we are not doing this stallion justice, given the barrel racing aspect our program has begun to cater to."

Although Weavers Doc Ima Poco is currently for sale private treaty, they will continue to stand him to the public until sold.

Toro The Blurr, the 2002 junior stallion of the O'Donnell breeding program, is becoming a successful barrel horse. "Toro" was purchased by the O'Donnells as a yearling, and initially started by Tim. Toro is by the late Jet Toro (a AAA son of Easy Jet and full brother to Easy Six) and out of an AA daughter of the Thoroughbred, Murrtheblurr. In 2007, Cody piloted Toro to a prize winning saddle at their local summer barrel series. Cody and Toro made the trip to New Mexico in the spring of 2009, where Cody attended a semester at New Mexico State University and the duo earned some AQHA barrel racing points. Amber began competing on Toro in 2009. The two really hit it off well, competing in NRA rodeos and barrel races though out Montana.

"Toro's arena performance is becoming stronger and stronger with each run. Toro is proving to have the consistency and heart to be a true champion," says Tim.

With Toro being a young horse, the O'Donnells are very pleased with his performance and are confident in his future as a barrel horse and barrel horse sire. Unfortunately, Toro incurred a strained check ligament in the fall of 2010, which took him out of barrel racing competition for the remainder of the year.

Amber is currently training a 2008 gelding by Toro, TM Blurred Sixes, which Cody started as a two-yr-old. "Bodee" (as is his barn name) is showing a lot of potential and Amber aspires to campaign him in the futurity ranks and eventually as her rodeo horse.

Leaning more toward the breeding of barrel racing horses, Tim and Mary purchased the Streakin Six son, Finish Line Express, in late March of 2009. The 1998 stallion has a 102 speed index and $54,507 in race earnings. His dam is a AAA daughter of Merridoc with earnings in excess of $46,000. Ranked as the nations #8 barrel horse sire in 2008, Finish Line Express was a welcomed addition to the program.

"Purchasing Finish Line Express was another milestone in our breeding program. It was a definite financial commitment, but a once in a lifetime opportunity; an opportunity the whole family was on board with and in agreement upon," says Tim.

Tim credits the finding of this fine stallion and several of their broodmares to his son Cody, who plays a huge role in the pedigrees sought after by O'Donnell Quarter Horses.

"I have always been a big fan of the Streakin Six horses and have always thought of it to be a line that has never gone out of style. Many barrel racers have ridden Streakin Six horses to the NFR in the past decade," says Cody.

With Finish Line Express, siring a $100,000+ barrel futurity horse, the up in coming barrel horse sire received international attention, breeding a mare from Italy in 2009. The O'Donnells were also very pleased and excited to book mares owned by Montana Circuit Finals barrel racers, Mandi Hamilton and Deena Moeykins, as well as successful Montana barrel futurity trainer and jockey, Jon Ottun.

"We can't stress enough how thankful we are to have Jon, Mandi, and Deena on board with our program. There is no greater reward as a breeder, than to have the confidence of other barrel professionals in our program. We can't wait to see them riding their Express colts in the coming years!"

With their first crop of Finish Line Express foals in 2010, the O'Donnells were beyond pleased with the caliber of colts sired by their new stallion.

"It is amazing to us, just how much our two Finish Line Express fillies stand out amongst our 2010 crop. They have a definite race built to them, along with great bone and substance!" says Tim.

The O'Donnell's take a lot of pride in the foals that they produce and brand each and every foal they raise. They hold a high degree of importance for making sure every horse that leaves their ranch has their brand. They truly believe that a horse's brand represents a stamp of approval and exemplifies the confidence of its breeder.

As far as family involvement goes in the O'Donnell's equine operation, each member of the family has found his or her essential niche in the program.

Tim plays an active role in the training, breeding, and management of the ranch's horses. With horses being his childhood dream, he has been the founder of the family's horse venture and livelihood.

"Not coming from an agriculture background, whatsoever, it has been such a blessing, to explore my childhood passion for horses and develop it into a program that has become a shared passion by both my wife and kids," states Tim.

Mary has an incredible business sense, which has proved repeatedly to be a key element in the promotion of the horses raised and ridden by the O'Donnell ranch. She helps in the advertising venues of the ranch and heads a local barrel series sponsored by O'Donnell Quarter Horses.

"Mary is undoubtedly the glue that holds our ranch together. She is the first to make sure we meet our deadlines and takes a lot of pride in preparing our colts for photo shoots and sales" says Tim.

As for the younger generation of the O'Donnell name, Amber and Cody have taken on the role of further promoting the O'Donnell brand via the horses they train and ride.

Amber is a surgical technician at the Rocky Mountain Surgery Center, in Bozeman, MT, and has been involved with barrel racing for the past 16 years. Tim holds her partly responsible for the barrel racing emphasis the program has developed. Amber's interest and talent lies in the finishing phase of the O'Donnell horses. Amber aspires to hit the rodeo trail more aggressively in the future.

Amber has patterned all the horses she competes on and hauls. She invests a great deal of time and training into developing her rodeo horses. Courtesy of her brother, Amber has some new additions to her current line-up of barrel horses; one being an own daughter of Dr Nick Bar and the other a 2008 gelding sired by Toro The Blurr.

"Ultimately, I intend to acquire some embryos out of Amber's mare, Dr Nicks Miss Bully. She is really coming on strong for Amber and clocking well against some of the top rodeo horses in the state. I started her Toro The Blurr gelding and just knew after the first ride that he belonged in Amber's barn. I have high hopes for the two of them and can't wait to see how their future partnership and career together unfolds," says Cody.

Cody has invested his education into the growth and efficiency of the family breeding operation. As a graduate of Montana State University in Bozeman, MT, Cody majored in Animal Science with an emphasis on Equine Science. He plans to not only specialize in the breeding aspect of his family's operation, but the training and foundation of the colts that O'Donnell Quarter Horses produce. Cody plays a major role in starting the colts the O'Donnells raise. He spends a great deal of time researching Quarter Horse bloodlines, particularly those suited for barrel racing.

"Horse pedigrees never cease to amaze me. I have found a great deal of truth in the pedigree of a horse and honestly believe it aides in taking a lot of guess work out of what a horse may or may not become, as well as measuring its marketing potential," says Cody.

Cody aspires to promote his family's horses in the barrel futurity world, too. The O'Donnell family has been very blessed to develop a dear friendship with professional barrel racer, Judy Myllymaki. Every spring the O'Donnell family hosts a Judy Myllimaki barrel racing clinic in Whitehall, MT.

"I would really like to train and ride some of our colts for the barrel futurities, and Judy's methods are crucial in achieving that goal. But, ultimately, I would like to develop an arsenal of barrel horses for Amber to take down the road and rodeo on," says Cody.

"We feel very honored and fortunate to have met Judy and have been exposed to her successful barrel training methods. Amber has experienced huge leaps of success in her barrel racing career, upon incorporating Judy's methods into her training regimen. Cody, too, has gotten a taste of what is to be expected of a successful futurity horse after riding with Judy. The knowledge and wisdom this woman has imparted upon our children is priceless to the insurance of our future success in this industry," states Tim.

Cody is currently working for world renowned barrel horse trainer, Kassie Mowry in Dublin, TX, and plans on taking a couple of his family's prized two-yr-olds to Texas over the winter to further their training.

"I have been very fortunate and blessed to have been able to do my college credited internship with the successful barrel racing breeding program, JB Quarter Horses, out of Refugio, TX. Not only did I learn a wealth of repro experience, but was given the opportunity to be exposed to several facets of the barrel racing industry. I can't thank Dee Braman enough for setting me up with the opportunity to work for Kassie!" says Cody.

Keeping up with their horse operation, is a constant, never ending task. However, as a family, the O'Donnells have made a competent team, capable of accomplishing this task. Nevertheless, O'Donnell Quarter Horses doesn't take complete credit for being simply a family affair, as they have several friends and supporters that share their talents to further promote the program.

"We couldn't become remotely recognized without the talents of our photographer and web designer, Chasya Roberts, of Blue Jean Photography. Her efforts are endless in making our visions a reality. Personal friend, Sue Goozen, is always ready to lend a helping hand in making videos of our sale horses. Both these gals are great at what they do and we are thankful to call them both friends and have their cutting edge talent in our advertising venues."

"I am very blessed and thankful to not only have a strong supportive family, but to have a team entirely committed and dedicated to our family owned business. By allowing God to be a partner in our business, He has truly blessed our lives with the horses we raise and ride, as well as with the many friendships we have made through our horses," says Tim

"Being in the horse breeding business is a huge financial investment; however, for me, it has been an investment in my family, an investment for generations to come."

The O'Donnell's have a wide selection of horses for sale at all times ranging from weanlings to started prospects. The O'Donnell family extends a welcoming invitation to anyone who would like to visit the ranch and see their horses firsthand.