Whoever said you can’t find a good horse at a sale hasn’t met the O’Boyles from Ithaca, Michigan.

Thad O’Boyle and his wife, Kim, and their two daughters, Kodi and Taylor, have had an enormous amount of success in the show ring from winning Congress Championships to placing in the Top 5 at the American Quarter Horse Association’s World Championship Show – all with horses that they have purchased in sales as yearlings or 2-year-olds.

Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that they made the selections themselves and have done all of the work together at their family’s farm without ever having a horse in full-time training.  Thad and Kim are the first to admit that they probably could have gotten a lot further a lot faster if they had been able to place their horses in full-time training with professionals.  Over the years and at big shows they have leaned on various professionals for help and guidance.

This year at the 2013 All American Quarter Horse Congress and AQHA Youth World Show, Dan and Darlene Trein, of Ohio, assisted Kodi.  Bruce Walquist has also helped the O’Boyles at both the Youth and Amateur World shows and at the Congress over the years.  On a more regular basis the family hauls to Beckey Schooler’s barn in Ohio for lessons.  “Doing the work on our own, I think that we have a better feel for our horses and the connection with the horse that you will never have if the horse is not in your care,”  Thad says. “I do feel that an amateur with just one or two horses would be further ahead keeping their horses with a trainer. We are very proud of what we have accomplished doing the work ourselves, but feel it has taken longer to be where we are today than it would have if we were with a trainer and may have saved some money after this many years of showing.”

Another obstacle the O’Boyle family faces is the weather in Michigan.

“This year Michigan has reached record low temperatures dropping below zero and has had a lot of snow which has not been good for our riding schedule or lack of and not to mention the increase in costs to heat the indoor arena,” Thad says.

But there is no denying their hard work and dedication has paid off in the show pen.

You Shock Me (Little Foot) a 2002 sorrel gelding by Zippos After Shock and out of Just Promoted, purchased in a production sale at Michigan State University has over 1,400 AQHA points and multiple AQHA Championships and Superiors. He has been Top 10 at the AQHA Youth World Show and in the Amateur division of the AQHA World Show numerous times.  He has earned six All American Quarter Horse Congress Championships – four in 2013 alone and he and Kodi captured the Reserve All Around title in the 12-14 Youth Division.

Oops I Am Good (Hudson) is a 2008 black gelding by Invitation Only and out of Goodbars Glamourgirl. He has earned over 800 AQHA points and placed in the Top 10 at the AQHA Open and Youth World Championship shows and at the Congress. He has earned several AQHA Championship and Superior awards. The O’Boyle family purchased Oops I Am Good at the 2009 AQHA World Show Sale as a yearling. His full brother, I Am Good II is following in his big brother’s footsteps. He recently earned his ROM in Western Pleasure and placed seventh in the Limited Division of the 2-Year-Old Non-Pro Western Pleasure at the 2013 Congress with Thad.

The O’Boyle family also purchased Oh So Mcdreamy, by Hot N Blazing and out of Suzannah Solo,  in the 2007 AQHA World Show Sale. In 2010, at he (now justa 4-year-old) and Kodi won the 11 & Under Youth Hunter Under Saddle at the Congress.

The O’Boyle family’s love for horses is strong. Kim, who grew up showing horses, is a teacher at Mount Pleasant Public Schools.  Thad is self employed as a farrier and farmer and has often been described as a “sponge” when it comes to learning about training, showing, and preparing horses. Taylor, 17, was injured in a riding accident at a very young age but that has not deterred her passion for horses. She currently attends a special needs living skills class at Alma High School but in her spare time she loves to “play” with the horses.  Kodi, 15, is a freshman at St Louis High School.   The family doesn’t take vacations instead they take “showcations.”

So, the next time you watch a sale think about this advice from Thad O’Boyle who has selected champion after champion from sales rings: “Look for a pretty horse,” he says. “The horse needs to be pretty, have personality and attitude is important. Plus, for us, they need to be trainable and want to like their job –  Taylor loves to handle and play with them!  Then we look for movement and talent to do more than one event since we enjoy the all-around.”