What does a good heel horse need to know?

A good heel horse must execute a specific sequence of skills that begins in the box and ends with a square face-up after the catch, and each element must be confirmed deeply enough to hold under the pressure and pace of competition. In the box the horse stands quietly, scores correctly, and leaves with purpose the moment the rider nods — not explosively like a head horse chasing the steer, but with enough forward commitment to close into position behind the header before the corner is finished. During the run the heel horse positions itself off the header's right hip, matching the header's pace through the corner and reading the steer's hind end as the heeler prepares to deliver. This positioning requires both rate and lateral awareness — the horse must stay close enough to the action for the heeler to make a timely delivery without crowding the header or drifting wide. Rope acceptance is non-negotiable: the heel horse must tolerate a loop swinging on both sides of its body, rope contact on its legs and flanks, and the sudden tension of a two-hock catch without flinching or changing stride. The stop is the heel horse's most critical response — hard, straight, and deep the instant the heeler's hand goes to the horn, with no delay and no drift to either side. After the stop the horse faces up squarely, holding steady tension on its rope with the steer straight between the two horses until the flag drops. Every one of these responses must be automatic because the heeler cannot manage the horse and time the delivery simultaneously.