AL DUNNING INTERVIEW Q - Congratulations on being a NCHA Million Dollar Open Rider -
How does this feel? A -It feels really great! This is not my only big win, I have had others, but this has been a great milestone. Getting to the Million Dollar mark was a long time coming, and it was a lot of fun getting there. We were competing in California, and it was a nice surprise.
Q - The horse that put you over the top is named “Donut”-
can you tell us about him and his cute name? A - Crispy Kreme is such a great horse. He is owned by C.H. DeHaan whom has been a great friend and client since early 2000. We bought him from Dawn Chapman and he has been so much fun to show. I only show him part time, C.H. shows him most of the time. I am so grateful to have horses like this to ride and show, and clients like C.H., whom have been riding with us for a long time.
Q - The Almosta Ranch brand sure has stood the test of time -
When did that name start and why? A - One thing I have done for many years, is write down on a simple yellow legal pad of paper my goals. In 1970 I was the manager of the barn at the Almosta Ranch located on the canal and Indian Bend Road. My goals were to become a horse trainer, marry Becky Lasley and to show and win. So, I quit College and made horses a full-time job all in the same year. By 1971 we were married. Ricky Bonanza was the stallion that we stood, and I did very well showing him. We had 3 horses in the big barn when I started as a full-time horse trainer. By 1971, I had the goals on that first sheet of paper pretty much handled. I had married Becky and was the head trainer at the Almosta Ranch. Becky and I would go to EVERY show and ride in EVERY class! I mean everything……..Becky and I won everything, and people started to take notice. That is how we built our new life together and business. One day a man showed up and said he had bought the land that the Almosta Ranch was built on and told me that they were going to develop the land and we had to move. I told him that I had a 3-year lease. He said we bought your lease and will give you top dollar to sell it to us. I used the money from the lease buy-out to make the down payment on the new Almosta Ranch location at 108th Street and Shea Blvd. on the Southeast Corner. I started with 16 acres there and just kept buying land around me as I had the funds come in from winning at shows. We ended up with 30 acres. I had a great mare named Pink Pony. She was one of the first horses that put me on the map. I had Ricky Bonanza as a stallion standing on the ranch, and Pink Pony was my Reining horse, and she was kicking everybody’s rear. I had won like a zillion in a row on her in the Reining and she was spectacular! That horse was the Love of my life! We bred Pink Pony to Boon Bar, and she had a baby named, 12
BY TRACY WAGER
More Oats Please. Shortly after her colt was born, Pink Pony coliced and died and left More Oats Please as an orphan. More Oats Please became a really special horse for us. This colt went thru some real trials himself growing up. Finally, I showed him at the AQHA World Show where I scored the highest score (at that time) ever scored there in Cutting. Now Becky at the same time was hiding in the bathroom going la, la, la, la, la so she could not hear how we were doing. She did not want to hear the crowd in case they all went Aaawwww, to indicate we had done poorly. When it was time to present the trophy, Becky came running down in time to get in the picture! Then, later on when I showed Expensive Hobby, Becky would duck under here announcers’ desk and not watch because she was afraid something would happen. This went on for many years and for the most part she will watch now, but if it is important, she will still hide because she cannot watch. When we built the Almosta Ranch on 160th Street in Rio Verde, there were so many things from our past that meant a lot to Becky and me. So, I integrated some stuff from the guys that had helped me along the way. I had BLUE DOT MARKS THE NEW LOCATION RIO VERDE THE LATE 1970’S three mentors originally. The first is Jim Paul, he built the patience poles we still use today. My main bridle hook that I still use everyday today, Jim Paul built. The first Hot Walker we had at the Almosta on Shea was built by John Hoyt and it was the first one I set up when we built the ranch on 160th Street. Don Dodge was the third mentor and a really big part of my going into the Cutting competition and Working Cow Horse. Several pieces of the Cutting Pen from Shea Blvd. Are part of the Cutting pen at the Almosta on 160th Street. Wood and pipe pieces from our original are used today in the square pen here today. Don Dodge was at the Almosta Ranch on Shea Blvd. on and off for 11 years. It was really important to us that we have a little piece of all the people that meant so much to us in our career. When I look at the Almosta Ranch now, I know why it means so much to both Becky and me. At the Almosta on Shea Blvd., after we made the deal to sell that land to developers, I had a guy I know bring his helicopter and land in our arena there. We wet everything down do there would not be too much dust blowing. We all got into the copter and flew around looking for places that would be perfect for the new Almosta Ranch to be built. When we flew over the land where it is right now, I told everyone that I am buying that land! They all thought I was crazy!
DECEMBER 2023
