Gil Valdez,
A Team Player and Head of the All Stars

”Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work
 a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” – Vince Lombardi

Gil Valdez is the ultimate team player. He brings his unique character, talents, skills, and commitment to everything he does and uses them to benefit everyone with whom he is working. Just as the world famous coach Vince Lombardi led the Green Bay Packers to victory in five National Football League Championships and the first two Super Bowls, Gil Valdez is committed to guiding his team of clients and their Arabian horses to the highest possible level of success.

Beginnings:
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, not a lack of wealth, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi

Gil Valdez was born in Nogales, Mexico. He admits that as a youngster, he loved horses so much he borrowed one from a neighbor and took it for a joy ride. The horse was returned, and luckily it ended well, Gil got a job taking care of that horse. Little did he know that it was the beginning of an exciting and fulfilling lifetime career.

Gil’s home town city of Nogales, Mexico borders the city of Nogales, Arizona and is just a short four hour drive from Scottsdale, Arizona home of some of the finest Arabian horses in the world. Gil was completely unaware of this, but in 1994 he made the decision to leave Mexico. Some invisible force drew him to Arizona and the Scottsdale area. 

Once Gil settled there, he met a friend who was working at a horse farm. That friend introduced Gil to another friend who worked at Midwest Training Center, one of the most successful training and marketing facilities in the world. That’s one of the best things about the Arabian horse business – people connecting with people. It wasn’t long before David Boggs noticed Gil’s infectious smile, positive attitude, and incredible work ethic. Midwest Training Center did not become as successful as it is through luck – David Boggs may appreciate talent, but he also requires dedication and long hard hours of work from his team – Gil was totally up to the challenge. Later that same year, Gil moved to Minnesota and started working full time for Midwest Training Center.

A key person working at Midwest at the time was Mary Rorherty. According to Gil, it was Mary who taught him everything he knows about conditioning and grooming a horse to perfection. He was a gifted student with a will to learn and to be the best – soon Gil was heading up the grooming staff. Gil had a talent for looking at a horse and seeing its hidden potential. It is a gift to be able to take what exists and make the absolute most of it. Gil has that gift. During the time that Gil spent working with Mary and the rest of the team, he learned more than just the techniques of preparing a horse for presentation. Gil learned true horsemanship – conformation, health care, breeding, and training. After two years Gil’s dedication and hard work was rewarded. He was made the manager of Midwest’s Training Program. As the manager, Gil oversaw all of the grooms, the conditioning of all of the training horses, and the preparations for all presentations and shows. Throughout his countless hours working with the Midwest team, Gil Valdez had the honor of handling and preparing some of the finest horses in the Arabian breed.

Advancements…
“We would accomplish many more things if we did not think of them as impossible.”  – Vince Lombardi

The next stage of Gil’s career required something more from him. He had become accustomed to, and even thrived on, the hectic pace of preparing the Midwest horses for presentation in the show ring as well as for potential buyers. He was the man behind the scenes making sure every horse was perfectly conditioned and groomed. Gil was considered by many to be the best of the best in his field of expertise.

At the 2000 Scottsdale All Arabian Show an opportunity was offered to Gil, but it meant that he would have to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Ten years earlier Gil might have thought it was impossible to think of showing a horse at one of the largest and most prestigious Arabian shows in the world. But all the time he had spent working to prepare national champions for other handlers had prepared him for that moment – Gil was ready to make his debut as a trainer and to present his first Scottsdale contender. The result was quite a success the horse he showed, Legacy’s Renoir, was named Champion Yearling Colt and Reserve Junior Champion Colt.

Over the years that followed, Gil continued to focus on the care and preparation of the Midwest horses as well as assisting with the presentation of horses for sale and the showing of horses at Class “A”, Regionals, and the National Championships. Gil earned numerous National Top Ten honors. With each competition he worked to improve his technique of showing his horses in a quiet, elegant manner that placed the focus and attention on the individual he was presenting. Gil’s goal has always been to minimize the stress and maximize the results for each horse.

In 2004 Gil got the chance to show one of his all time favorite horses, a truly exquisite individual, the Half Arabian gelding, Shut Up and Dance. That year Gil showed him to the Scottsdale Supreme Championship, as well as the Canadian and US National Championship titles. That was Gil’s first national championship win and he never forgot the thrill of the winners’ circle, the beautiful red roses, the shining trophies, or the cheers from the crowds. Since then Gil has gone on to win numerous other Regional, Scottsdale, and National Championship titles.

In addition to preparing and showing horses at US and Canadian shows, Gil has also traveled to Europe and South America. Some of the countries that the Arabian horse has taken him to include France, for the Salon du Cheval in Paris, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay. Not bad for a young man from a small town in Mexico!

A New Endeavor…
“The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.”  – Vince Lombardi

Many people earn a living going to work everyday and doing only what is required of them and nothing more. They look at extraordinary people leading extraordinary lives and wonder how it is possible. The answer is generally one of two things. Either they don’t understand their own power to create a different life, or, they simply are not willing to do what it takes to make it happen. Vince Lombardi also said, “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” The most inspiring people in this world are those who have worked hard to over come the most difficult of circumstances to follow their dreams.

After 13 years of being a part of the team at Midwest Training Center, Gil decided that it was time for him to follow his dreams and begin a career in which he was accountable for his own success or failure. Gil knew that this new endeavor would again require more of himself than ever before – more work, more dedication, more commitment, more focus and more faith – but that was fine with him. He had a firm foundation built on those cornerstones of success. So, in 2007 Gil left Minnesota and moved back to Scottsdale and started his own Arabian horse business – All Stars Arabians.

The services Gil Valdez offers at All Stars Arabians include evaluation, selection, conditioning, training, marketing, and consulting for both halter and breeding stock. Since he began his own business, Gil has already assisted some of the top breeders and owners in the country including Dixie and Robert North of North Arabians, Cedar Ridge Arabians, Gary and Wanda Kenworthy of Paradise Arabians, and others.

What makes these world class breeders and owners request the services provided by Gil Valdez? In addition to his exceptional talent, skills, experience, and expertise, Gil possesses a positive outlook and uplifting presence that you can’t help but enjoy. You too are invited to join the All Star Team and experience the fulfillment of your dreams.