Mixed signals?

Well, I took him on the longeline, and he did good moving to the right, stopping. Moving to left was challenge. My whip is too short to tap his shoulder, and the string is too wild to hit accurately with so I end up flopping it and brushing it around his neck and ankles. Then he pulls back. when I wait for him to step forward and release the pressure, I try to move him at the shoulder again, and he just tries to wait me out. (I win...) When he finally gets going to the left, he goes about half way and stops/turns. I'm wondering if he's(me?) confusing the pull/step of whoa witth the pulling that's happening as he steps to the outside. I had to get a little testy when he wouldn't move out to the left, and when he would finally move, but sort of crowd my space...moving towards my shoulder than moving around me. At one (no two) points, he was pulling back and lifted up his front legs in a pseudo-challenge (?) or am I reading way to much into it?? I got him around to the right and then around to the left (with a few steps I interpreted as "snotty attitude" at the start) before stopping. I did give praise on the good turns and when he finally got what I wanted. Try again tomorrow.