INCENTIVES: IQHA Ranch Horse Futurity

Reid and Melanie Hockensons’ junior stallion, HQ Top Gun, is a pretty gray following in his daddy’s footsteps. 

In 2023, HQ Top Gun was the AQHA Reserve World Champion in Jr Heading, winning $16,536. Last winter at the Best of the West at the Black Hills Stock Show, he won the Heeling Futurity under Jay Wadhams and was the reserve champ in tie-down roping under Luke Jones. His success at the Cornhusker Futurity with Jones in the heading brought his total paychecks to $28,182 as of last fall. He earned his title of AQHA Champion in June with 253 points in five disciplines. 

“He’s big, strong, fast, pretty,” said Reid. “He exemplifies all the attributes of his sire, without the cream gene.” 

HQ Top Gun is by the Hockensons’ stallion CT Show Me Your Guns—also an AQHA Champion and the 2021 AQHA World Champion in Sr Heading.  His sire, Show Me A Song Joes, was the 2011 Sr Heading World Champion, and his dam was a finalist in Jr Heading.  

“We absolutely love the bottom of his pedigree,” said Hockenson. “We raised several foals out Music N Jewels. She’s been a tremendous producer for us. We love that she’s out of a Colonel Freckles daughter—that line brings a lot of beauty and athleticism.” 

HQ Top Gun will hit the road to futurities in 2025 with Luke Jones, sons Will and Cort Jones, Jay Wadhams and John Philipp. He’ll likely be a Superhorse contender at the 2025 AQHA World Show, so, high-quality frozen semen is available while he’s being shown.

“He’s a really cool horse because he has a lot of try, but gives you the same run every time,” Hockenson said. “He’s easy to heel on—Jay had never thrown a leg over him before winning that futurity last winter.”