I have been working with my Standardbred X Cob filly, Indie, for some time now, and she is doing well in most spheres. She is a jewel to lunge, responding to vocal commands in walk, trot and canter and keeping a level pace in all and a good circle all round. I have also introduced a bit to her (mouthing bit to begin with) and she has taken to it well, both in putting in, taking out and generally accepting it. I plan to progress to a French Link Snaffle a sit is kinder on the young mouth and doesn't have a nutcracker action. She has also been lightly backed, starting with gentle sitting-on whilst tied up and going on to long in-hand walks with me sitting on her bareback.
The only problem is long-reining, I have tried her with blinkers, with prodding and poking but all she does is spin and stare at me, like
huh? I tried one person leading whilst I reined from behind on several occasions, but when I go to do it on my own its straight back to spin stare and
huh? everyone I have spoken to has been distinctly vague and mentions her "growing out of it."
I have worked with several young horses but haven't encountered this particular obstacle before, can anyone help me,
please?