Hunter Koch has been a beast on the heel side so far this season.
After making his third NFR in 2023, the 26-year-old is off to an even better start in ’24. He is No. 4 in the World Standings, still alive in Houston and fresh off of a $100,000 payday at The American.
“I don’t know if there’s been much of a huge change, just time and sticking with the process and sticking with working hard and always trying to get myself and my horses better,” he said. “The ball is rolling, we’re going to do our best to keep it going.”
Koch says there was no one switch, but this past NFR with Luke Brown was undoubtedly a springboard to better things. The pair won $162,542 apiece and finished second in the Average.
“That was something I’ve always dreamed of happening,” Koch said. “It did kind of help confidence-wise and trusting that what I’m working on is working.”
In 2024, Koch has become a noticeably more confident and powerful heeler, which he credits to his reliable mount Casino and a new young horse named Crypto, whom he rode during him and Cody Snow’s victory at La Fiesta De Los Vaqueros (Arizona) in February.
"(Crypto) has been a blessing, he’s just been outstanding,” Koch said. “He’s bigger, faster, stronger, all those key components you need to heel at high level.”
