Al Dunning - Sun Circuit Interview

Q- You were there when Sun Circuit began. Did you ever imagine it would grow as it has?

A- I remember the first years of the Sun Circuit. They were held at Paradise Park on McCormick Ranch and Siminoff Stables on North Scottsdale Road, neither of which are there today. The concept was exciting and people came from all over the United States to show. If you won at the Sun Circuit, you could win anywhere! All the tough competitors were there. The Sun Circuit idea was destined to continue to grow because of the excellent competition and desire for everyone to measure their horse’s next to the best of the best.

Q- It takes a team of folks to run these huge shows. Someone has to watch the money for it to survive. Dorn Parkinson has had that responsibility as the Treasurer for AZQHA for a longtime. How important has Dorn’s taking on that responsibility been for Sun Circuit?

A- As the show has grown so have the responsibilities of our association. We first think of horses, points, and so on but the bottom line is critical. For the show to continue to grown and be successful we must be able to pay for awards, the facility, quality judges and much, much more! Dorn has done a great job of keeping his finger on the financial aspect of the Sun Circuit.

Q- Doug Huls, the manager of the Sun Circuit, has been a steady-hand on the wheel driving the growth of the event. How has he survived, so long, in the challenging world of Quarter Horse politics?

A- Doug is a forward thinker. He has been to the biggest Quarter Horse shows all over the country. Through his experience he has learned to navigate the political issues and continues to innovate the Sun Circuit. It’s a tough job because everybody in the association and all the exhibitors think they are the most important ones for him to focus on. Instead, Doug must focus on the big picture and try to do the best he can in all circumstances for the majority. He has done well.

Q- You have mentored many people that went on to become great horse trainers. Why did you spend so much of your time helping them develop their talent? And, why are you still doing it at the ranch and online?

A- When I was a young man, I looked up to many of the great trainers on the West Coast. There was not one of them that wasn’t willing to share their knowledge and give me safe advice. There are many aspects to being a successful trainer. One is to be able to train a horse well to do his job and be happy. Another is to be able to instruct riders to have good horsemanship skills and think like the horses think. Third is to be able to show and leave the training behind, focusing on being competitive at the highest level. Fourth is to become a mentor for the up-and-coming next generation of horse trainers. I have tried to fulfill all of the above during my career. I get much happiness in watching those I’ve helped succeed. When they win, I win in my heart!

Q- The Almosta Ranch is for sale. When it sells are you going to stay in the business, or retire?

A- I’m selling the ranch for estate planning purposes. I’ve always believed that you must be ahead of the future. I want to keep training horses and helping people. My hope is that if someone buys this place, I will stay, manage the facility, and keep training. If not, I have some very good options in the area.

Q- Today, very few horse trainers own their own ranches, instead they rent stalls from patrons that own the barns. Do you think they are making a mistake not investing in their own place?

A- Everybody that gave me advice told me “the only true value is in the land.” That’s why I wanted to own property and watch it grow. It’s been good for me and it has afforded me a great lifestyle.

Q- You have for years had a great stable of corporate sponsors, particularly FARNAM and other large players. How important are sponsors in your program?

A- That’s cool that you mentioned Farnam first, as they were basically my first sponsor in 1972. Since that time, I have developed an array of excellent sponsor partnerships which have become long term relationships. They have all contributed in some way to my success. I have enjoyed over the years being in advertisements, utilizing their fabulous products, and reciprocating by promoting them with signage, social media, and a lot more. I feel blessed to have some of the most coveted sponsors in our industry!