Al Dunning Interview

BY TRACY WAGER

Q - Congratulations on being a NCHA Million Dollar Open RiderHow 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 timeWhen 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,

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 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!

There was nothing out here in Rio Verde and barely a road to even get to 160th Street. Back then it was a tiny road to get here, trees were growing all over the side of the road and hanging over. Horses and cattle ran wild all over, it was really dangerous to drive out here. We have always been visionaries. When we moved to 108th Street and Shea it was 12 miles to the nearest store and when we moved to 160th Street and Rio Verde Drive, guess what? It was 12 miles to the nearest store again!

I remember when I called you, Tracy and told you that we needed help to promote an Open House and Clinic at the new Almosta Ranch on 160th Street. It was not finished yet and we had some time to plan. I had no idea; you had all the ideas. Tracy, you gave me a list of things and said, “Be ready, a lot of people will be coming!” You handled a lot of it, it was so wonderful. Over 500 people showed up to watch the clinic, eat lunch and see our new place. You ran the promotion in the Bridle & Bit, and then afterwards a big 4-page story with photos of all the fun we had that day! I will never forget that day, it was so amazing that all those people showed up to see me and the new Almosta Ranch we had just built.

Q - A new 300’ X 150’ covered arena has been erected at the Almosta Ranch -

It sure is a magnificent building and the views are still amazing!

How do you like it?

A - I love it! We are getting all the footing done by Thad Carr right now and that will make it even better.

A - The new owner Kris Charton had the covered arena built and a really nice new front entrance gate. She just finished putting all new steel fencing in for the pastures and turn-outs. We are working on new things every day, with more to come.

Q - What are your next goals, Al?

A -To keep riding and winning!

By the way, I am 73 years old now and not slowing down. Today I rode all day, and, in the afternoon, we did construction and work at the Almosta Ranch. I keep really busy every day with a full training barn, and still judge NRCHA events.

Q - The right partner in business is essential - What is it like to have Becky as your partner?

A - I want to make sure that this is said, when you have the right mate in life, the right partner…..that is what really puts it all together. Without Becky’s encouragement and criticism over the years (sometimes I get a little irritated by it), but it is all meaningful, because it is about us. About us and our lives and the business we put together all these years.

Becky was involved in building the Al Dunning Training Stables from the beginning. She showed in classes I did not compete in and won it all! Becky quit showing to focus on our family after we lost our kids at the World Show. I was riding and Becky was showing. When she got finished, she said, “Where is McKenzie?” We stopped and asked everyone, we looked everywhere and could not find her. Everyone was looking for hours. She was sleeping on a stack of saddle pads being sold at a vendor’s booth and was around the corner behind the drapes.

Another time at the AQHA World Show, I was watching Grady, who was 8 years old at the time. He was sitting in the stands, and I was schooling my horses in the arena at night. I told Grady to sit

with these people. I am running up and down fencing my horse and I hear this, “Dad, Dad!” I looked all over and could not find him. Then I hear again, “Dad!” I look up and he is on the catwalk up on top of the coliseum arena. Way up on the top all by himself! It was a very dangerous place for him to be over the top of all of us riding in the arena. I said, “Grady, get down from there right now!” I thought, wow Becky wanted me to watch him and to make sure that he is OK, and now this kid is in a death-defying place overhead. When he comes down, I said, “Grady, how did you end up there?” He said, “Dad, I saw one of the workers go thru this door and I was interested in what was behind that door. So, I went thru the door and ended up finding the cool catwalk to climb on and I climbed up on it.” It was amazing that nothing happened but it sure thru Becky and I for a loop.

That had such an effect on us, that Becky quit showing that minute and never showed again. She still does not show because now she is helping to raise our grand-daughters Gracie and Hadley. Becky does still do her show announcing, and she will lope horses at the Cutting shows sometimes for fun and to help.