I’m so excited for you!!! My buckskin had black tips on her huge ears, and when we went trail riding she would relax and they would swing. Entrancing. 
On the original topic… JJ was hard for me to get really forward. She still looks like a plow horse at liberty, but has pepped up a ton under saddle. She was better with my trainer than me, because it turns out 6" of leg difference confused her. 
However, she now gets to do medium trot as a reward, so she wants to go and is way more sensitive and well behaved.
