How do I teach a rope horse to rate correctly behind or beside the steer?

Rate is the rope horse's ability to match the steer's speed and hold a consistent position — close enough for the roper to make a delivery, far enough that the horse is not crowding or running over the cattle. It is one of the most important skills a rope horse develops and one of the hardest to install because it requires the horse to suppress its natural chase instinct and instead regulate its own speed relative to another moving animal. The groundwork for rate is built before cattle through speed control exercises: the horse must lope at any speed the rider dictates, from a slow collected lope to an extended run, and hold that speed without constant encouragement or restraint. A horse that either charges forward or falls behind when released from direct rider control is not yet ready to rate cattle. When cattle are first introduced, use slow, calm cattle at a walk or slow trot so the horse can begin to find the concept of following without the adrenaline of a fast run overwhelming its training. Ask the horse to follow behind the steer at a consistent distance — not beside it yet — and reward the horse for holding that distance without charging. As the horse understands the concept, increase cattle speed gradually. The transition from following directly behind to positioning beside the steer for heading or heeling comes after the horse understands rate at following distance. Horses that blow past steers or drift wide are almost always horses whose basic speed control was not confirmed before cattle were introduced at speed.