Why Mustangs Are Different
A BLM mustang has never been fed by humans, caught, or handled. Its only association with humans — prior to adoption — is likely the roundup and holding facility, which was stressful. Everything it knows about survival was learned in a wild herd. That's its frame of reference.
The good news: horses are prey animals hardwired to trust the horse that doesn't cause them pain. When training is done through pressure-and-release with good timing and patience, mustangs form bonds with their trainers that domestic horses rarely match. They choose their relationship. That makes it powerful.
The Mustang Training Timeline
Don't compare mustang progress to domestic horse progress. The timeline is completely different and varies dramatically by individual horse. Some mustangs accept a halter in 3 days; others need 3 weeks. Neither is wrong — the horse tells you when it's ready.