Al
Dunning

From Chicago to Arizona — A Career Built Across Western Disciplines

Al Dunning is an American horse trainer, clinician, author, and competitor best known for his accomplishments in western performance horse events and his long association with the American Quarter Horse industry. Over several decades, Dunning has built a reputation as a versatile horseman whose work has included reining, cutting, working cow horse, all-around competition, and horsemanship instruction.

Dunning was born on March 5, 1950, and spent his early childhood near Chicago, Illinois. In 1958, his family relocated to Arizona, where his involvement with horses expanded significantly. He took riding lessons at Siminoff Stables and developed skills in horsemanship and roping during his youth. From the early 1960s through his teenage years, Dunning competed in a wide range of horse show events, including reining, working cow horse, western pleasure, trail, horsemanship, jumping, calf roping, and showmanship.

Dunning won an important early reining competition at age nineteen aboard a mare named Stormy Pink. After attending Phoenix College and Arizona State University, he established his own professional horse training business in 1970. Early in his career, he focused heavily on halter horses, reining horses, and youth all-around competition horses before expanding into cutting and cow horse events.

The Buckskin That Defined a Career

One of the most important horses associated with Dunning's career was Expensive Hobby, a buckskin Quarter Horse gelding that became widely recognized within the western performance horse industry. Under Dunning's training and competition program, the 1971 gelding earned AQHA World Championships (working cow horse in 1976; senior reining and senior working cow horse in 1979) and won the NRHA Open Championship at the 1980 All American Quarter Horse Congress. He was inducted into the AQHA Hall of Fame in 2007 and was commemorated as a Breyer model horse.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Dunning expanded his influence across multiple western disciplines. He worked alongside respected trainer Don Dodge to further develop his knowledge of cutting horses. Over time, his training program produced champions and reserve champions in organizations including the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), National Reining Horse Association (NRHA), National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA), and National Reined Cow Horse Association (NRCHA).

Teaching Western Horsemanship Nationally and Internationally

Dunning became known as a teacher and clinician, conducting horsemanship clinics throughout the United States and internationally. He appeared at major events including Equitana, Equine Affaire, and the All American Quarter Horse Congress. Through these clinics and demonstrations, he became associated with practical western horsemanship instruction focused on communication, responsiveness, and performance training.

In addition to competition and clinics, Dunning authored several books on western horse training and reining. His published works include books focused on reining, hackamore training, bridle horse development, and reined cow horse competition. These publications helped expand his reach beyond the show arena and contributed to his recognition as both a trainer and educator within the western horse industry.

Industry Service and Major Honors

Throughout his career, Dunning served in leadership positions within the horse industry. He served as president of the Arizona Quarter Horse Association and the Arizona Cutting Horse Association, while also serving in leadership and committee roles connected to AQHA and other industry organizations.

• AQHA Professional Horseman of the Year — 1996
• National Cutting Horse Association Zane Schulte Award — Trainer of the Year, 2003
• Arizona Quarter Horse Association Hall of Fame — 2016 (alongside Expensive Hobby)
• Western Horseman Award — 2017
• Expensive Hobby — AQHA Hall of Fame (2007) and Breyer model horse
• President, Arizona Quarter Horse Association
• President, Arizona Cutting Horse Association

Dunning continues to be associated with western performance horse training through his Scottsdale, Arizona operation, Almosta Ranch, alongside his wife Becky Dunning. His career reflects a broad involvement across competitive horse training, horsemanship education, authorship, and leadership within the American Quarter Horse industry.