How do you keep a rope horse between your legs and reins?

A rope horse that is between the leg and rein is one that responds equally to both aids and stays in balance between them — not pulling against the rein, not ignoring the leg, but traveling in a frame where the rider's hands and legs have real, light communication with the horse at all times including in the presence of cattle. Getting a rope horse to that state requires that the foundational responsiveness to both aids is confirmed in flat work before cattle are ever introduced, because cattle excitement consistently reduces a horse's sensitivity to both leg and rein. A horse that is marginally responsive to the leg in the arena will be unresponsive to the leg beside a fast steer. The specific flat work that builds between-the-aids sensitivity is transitions — frequent, deliberate transitions between gaits and within gaits that keep the horse listening to both the leg for forward energy and the rein for rate and direction simultaneously. A horse that transitions crisply from collected lope to extended lope and back on seat and leg cues, steers accurately from light rein pressure, and maintains its tempo without constant input is a horse whose basic between-the-aids quality is confirmed. In the roping pen, preserve that quality by not allowing cattle excitement to override it: the moment the horse begins pulling against the rein or ignoring the leg beside cattle, simplify the task — slow the cattle down, reduce the pace, go back to a level where the horse can be ridden correctly — rather than fighting through the session at a level where the aids have lost their meaning.