What began as a frustrating, chilly encounter in a return alley has blossomed into a remarkable ascent to the pinnacle of competitive team roping, as Rockk Star, a 6-year-old sorrel gelding, now stands as the high callback in the prestigious Futurity Heeling at the Old West World Championships. Under the skilled hand of Hunter Koch, this once-unruly colt has transformed into a leading contender, showcasing a journey of perseverance, exceptional talent, and strategic partnership. With a commanding score of 686.16 on three head, Rockk Star and Koch hold a narrow but significant lead of 0.45 points over their closest rivals, Jeremy Buhler and DT Hickorys Stinger, setting the stage for an anticipated final on Saturday, October 17th.
The Old West World Championships, held annually in Amarillo, Texas, represents one of the most significant events in the professional rodeo and team roping calendar. It draws top competitors and highly conditioned horses from across North America, all vying for coveted titles and substantial prize money. The Futurity Heeling division, specifically, is designed to showcase the athleticism and training of younger horses, typically four to six years old, that are just beginning their competitive careers. It emphasizes the intricate partnership between horse and rider, demanding precision, speed, and responsiveness in the challenging discipline of heeling, where the horse must quickly stop and hold the steer after the header has roped its horns, allowing the heeler to rope the steer’s hind legs.
The narrative of Rockk Star’s early days is a testament to the dedication required in equestrian sports. Hunter Koch vividly recalls his initial interactions with the then-young colt. "The first time I ever got on him was at Chad Masters’ house, in his return alley. It was about 30 degrees, and he lapped the return alley about 72 times when I was trying to swing my rope on him, because he didn’t like it," Koch recounted. This challenging introduction, marked by the colt’s aversion to the rope and the biting cold, painted a picture of a horse with a strong, perhaps stubborn, will. Yet, even in those moments of resistance, Koch sensed a unique spirit, acknowledging, "And now here he is. You know, he’s been just special." This transformation from a recalcitrant youngster to a composed, high-performing athlete underscores the patience and expertise invested by his trainers and owners.
Rockk Star’s path to the top of the Old West Futurity Heeling has been meticulously charted through three demanding rounds of competition. He started strong, securing third place in Round 1 with a score of 228.21. His performance escalated dramatically in Round 2, where he delivered a winning run of 230.21, earning a $2,000 bonus. Maintaining consistency and strategic precision, he then marked 227.74 in Round 3. This cumulative performance not only placed him firmly in the lead but also highlighted his adaptability and consistent excellence under pressure. Koch’s approach in the preliminary rounds was a calculated blend of aggression and conservatism. "The first steer was a really, really good steer, just a medium steer, and I just caught him, and I think we ended up third in the round," Koch explained. "The second steer, another really good steer, and we went 230. And the third steer was a little stronger, but I was a little more conservative just because, I mean, we had a pretty good lead, and just caught him. But this horse, he’s pretty easy. Just kind of got to focus about roping, and we don’t have to worry about managing him or riding him, so it was easy. It was fun." This ease of handling, where the rider can solely focus on the mechanics of roping rather than managing the horse, is a hallmark of a truly exceptional equine partner.
The journey of Rockk Star, a sorrel gelding foaled in 2020 and owned by JD and Lindsey McGuire of X Performance Horses, is more than just a string of competitive wins; it’s a testament to a philosophy of developing versatile, reliable, and fundamentally sound performance horses. Rockk Star has emerged as a truly universal horse, capable of excelling across various competitive formats and under different riders. This versatility is a rare and highly valued trait in the demanding world of equestrian sports. JD McGuire, co-owner of X Performance Horses, proudly attests to this quality, noting the wide array of riders who have found success with Rockk Star. "He sure has been good for every single person. I mean, Trevor Brazile just stopped me, talked to me about it. I mean, you know, he won on him, Paul [Eaves] has won on him, I’ve won on him, Hunter’s won on him," McGuire stated. The mention of Trevor Brazile, a 26-time PRCA World Champion and widely regarded as the greatest cowboy of all time, stopping to discuss Rockk Star, speaks volumes about the horse’s reputation and impact within the industry. "He’s good for every kind of crazy. Exactly what we need more of, you know? He hasn’t been to the vet in I couldn’t tell you how long. He’s so sound. He just wants to be your friend," McGuire added, highlighting not just the horse’s athletic prowess but also his amiable disposition and remarkable durability, crucial factors for a long and successful career.
Before his stellar performance at the Old West World Championships, Rockk Star had already accumulated an impressive $153,568 in QData earnings, a figure that includes winnings from futurities, PRCA rodeos, and jackpots. This substantial sum underscores his consistent performance across various levels of competition. His most significant single payout this year came from the Futurity Heeling at the Old West’s Heber City, Utah, stop in June, where he secured second place for $21,513 with Paul Eaves in the saddle while Koch was competing on the rodeo circuit. Even earlier in his career, as a 4-year-old, Rockk Star demonstrated his potential by winning the prestigious Gold Buckle Spring 4-&-Under Heeling Futurity, taking home an $18,500 prize. These milestones illustrate a carefully managed career, balancing the specialized environment of futurities with the broader demands of rodeo and jackpot circuits.
Koch’s involvement with Rockk Star has spanned various phases of the horse’s development. He had not shown Rockk Star in a futurity since March of the horse’s 5-year-old year, instead utilizing him for the demanding PRCA rodeo circuit. "I rodeoed on him last winter. I rode him in, made the short round at San Antone on him, made the semis at Fort Worth on him, and so I rode him most of the winter, and then JD took him back," Koch elaborated. This strategy of alternating between Koch for rodeos and McGuire for jackpots and conditioning speaks to a shared vision and a highly effective partnership between the rider and the owners. QData records show Rockk Star earning $16,189 at PRCA rodeos in 2026 alone, with significant contributions from San Antonio ($9,908) and Fort Worth ($3,500). Concurrently, McGuire himself contributed to the horse’s earnings through jackpot wins, including third-place checks at two #11.5 handicapped ropings and a fourth in the average at the Ashford Memorial, totaling $8,500. This collaborative approach ensures the horse remains conditioned, confident, and exposed to diverse competitive scenarios, preparing him for high-stakes events like the Old West World Championships.
"It’s just a good team effort by both of us. We both have the same goal and the same vision as far as, you know, what we want to do with our horses—make them go beyond just the futurity world," Koch affirmed, highlighting the synergy between his professional rodeo aspirations and McGuire’s dedication to developing top-tier performance horses. "So, like, when I’m gone rodeoing, or, you know, going somewhere, JD takes them and gives them confidence and jackpots on them, ’cause JD rides really good, too, and they get good reps. And then they can get realistic reps from me, and we bounce back and forth. There’s a trailer coming from Stephenville and Midland every week." This seamless transition between training environments and riders is a critical component of Rockk Star’s continued success and the overall strength of the X Performance Horses program.
The ascendancy of Rockk Star also carries a deeper, more poignant narrative, inextricably linked to the loss of another beloved horse, Canteburys Cherrey, affectionately known as Crypto. Crypto, a 2018 sorrel gelding, was the first horse McGuire acquired when he re-entered the roping world, and he quickly became a cornerstone of the X Performance Horses program. Koch rodeoed extensively on Crypto, and the pair made it to the National Finals Rodeo (NFR). However, Crypto tragically had to be euthanized earlier this year due to an injury, a profound loss for both Koch and McGuire. "That was hard on all of us. You know, that was JD’s first horse he bought back when he started back roping. It meant a lot to him," Koch shared, reflecting on the emotional impact. "When me and him partnered up, you know, he was gracious enough to let me take him rodeoing, and then me and Cody made the Finals, and I rode that horse, and he was exceptional there. And then, you know, he ended up having to put him down because of an injury. But, you know, this horse [Rockk Star] has always been a second favorite, because we’ve had him since he was two. So he’s kind of been my second favorite to Crypto. And then when Crypto passed away, this horse is just—I tell JD all the time, this is my spirit animal. I love this horse. We’ve been through a lot." This sentiment reveals the deep bond forged between Koch and Rockk Star, a partnership strengthened by shared experiences and the profound role Rockk Star now plays in carrying forward the legacy that Crypto helped establish. McGuire echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the foundational role both horses played: "Between him and Crypto, they pretty much made our whole program."
The strength of the X Performance Horses program is not solely reliant on Rockk Star. The outfit brought an impressive nine horses to the Futurity Heeling at the Old West World Championships, with Koch, Paul Eaves, McGuire, and Colton McCarley riding. This deep roster underscores a strategic investment in top-tier equine talent and a robust development pipeline. Further demonstrating their program’s depth, two other X Performance Horses made it into the top 13 in the average: Rubys Stylish Cat, ridden by Paul Eaves, secured ninth place with 676.63 points, and Hes A Rowdy Rebel, also ridden by Hunter Koch, finished 13th with 672.42 points. This collective performance solidifies X Performance Horses’ reputation as a significant force in the competitive roping world.
A deeper look into Rockk Star’s pedigree reveals a lineage rich with champions from various Western performance disciplines, particularly cutting. He is sired by Peptoboonsmal, a legendary 1992 red roan stallion by Peppy San Badger. Peptoboonsmal is a National Cutting Horse Association (NCHA) Open Futurity Champion and an all-time leading sire in the cutting horse industry, with his progeny earning millions across multiple disciplines. Rockk Star’s dam is Aristocratic Star, a mare by the iconic High Brow Cat. High Brow Cat, a 1988 stallion, is arguably the most influential sire in the history of cutting horses, with his offspring earning over $90 million. His second dam, Aristocratic Cookie, is by Smart Aristocrat, further embedding the bloodline of Smart Little Lena into Rockk Star’s heritage. Smart Little Lena, a 1979 stallion, is another foundational sire in the cutting world, renowned for his cow sense, agility, and trainability. The presence of Smart Little Lena on the bottom side twice – as he sired Smart Little Kitty (High Brow Cat’s dam) and Smart Aristocrat – signifies a concentration of superior genetic traits for athletic ability, cow sense, and trainability. This stellar breeding, originating from Star C Land & Cattle Co. LLC, provides the genetic blueprint for Rockk Star’s exceptional talent and adaptability across disciplines, validating the significant investment in top bloodlines for competitive rope horses.
JD McGuire’s perspective on the financial commitment to performance horses reflects a calculated risk and a profound belief in the industry’s future. "I think, you know, just the momentum that the industry has is crazy right now," McGuire observed. "I don’t think it’s going anywhere anytime soon, and if we just keep following kind of how the cutters have been going, and the reiners, and the cow horse guys, we’ve got a very steep upward trend, I feel like. It is a lot of gambling, for sure, but it’s worth it as much as you need to get just one horse like that." This statement underscores the growing recognition of rope horses as a significant investment class within the broader Western performance horse market. The analogy to cutting, reining, and cow horse industries, which have seen exponential growth and high-value transactions, suggests a similar trajectory for team roping. McGuire’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that a single exceptional horse can be transformative. "You’re just one horse away from just changing your entire life, you know?" he mused, speaking of Rockk Star, whom he acquired "on a whim" from Solo Select. "You’re just one horse away from changing your whole life, you never really know. And I hate to just put it on a horse, but it really is a human deal, for sure." This perspective highlights not only the economic potential but also the profound personal impact that such a partnership can have, acknowledging that while the horse provides the raw talent, it is the human dedication, training, and strategic management that unlock its full potential.
As the finals approach on Saturday, October 17th, all eyes will be on Hunter Koch and Rockk Star. Their journey, from a challenging beginning to the precipice of a major championship, embodies the spirit of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence that defines the world of competitive team roping. With a formidable lead and a history of consistent performance, Rockk Star is poised to etch his name further into the annals of equine champions, a testament to the power of partnership, pedigree, and unwavering dedication.
