What does a good hazing horse do in steer wrestling?

The hazing horse and hazer in steer wrestling are the overlooked half of a partnership that is as important to a successful run as the bulldogger himself, and the quality of the hazing horse's work directly determines whether the steer runs straight, stays at the correct distance from the bulldogger's horse, and presents the bulldogger with a catchable opportunity at the right moment. A poor hazing run — a steer that drifts wide, that speeds up unpredictably, or that turns away from the bulldogger — can make a fast catch impossible regardless of the bulldogger's skill. The hazing horse's primary job is to keep the steer running in a straight line at a controlled pace on the right side of the arena — between the hazer and the bulldogger's horse — from the moment the steer exits the chute to the moment the bulldogger catches it. This requires a horse that is fast enough to keep pace with running cattle, athletic enough to adjust his position laterally while maintaining pace, and trained enough to respond to the hazer's guidance with minimal visible effort while the hazer is focused on the steer rather than on managing the horse. The hazing horse must be completely comfortable running alongside cattle at close proximity and must not shy away from or overrun cattle when they change pace unexpectedly. The steer that suddenly slows, turns, or stops is the steer that tests whether the hazing horse is genuinely confirmed in his cattle work or whether his cattle comfort only extends to predictable situations. A hazing horse that overreacts when the steer turns — that shies away, that ducks out to the side, or that abruptly changes pace — breaks the straight line that the bulldogger needs and ruins the run. Horses that make exceptional hazing horses are often seasoned rope horses, former bulldogging horses, or horses with extensive cattle experience that have developed the calm, confident, responsive quality that hazing requires. The hazing horse is asked to run fast, stay straight, maintain position relative to a moving and unpredictable animal, and do all of this while carrying a rider who is watching the steer rather than primarily managing the horse.