Interesting observations. I would suspect that the prey animal (equine) is more easily distracted BECAUSE it is a prey animal, also alert for possible predators. Another potential is insufficient repetition and frequency of training is resulting in a "sloppy" response. But the natural ability to use the nose is survival related, with the horse in a less domesticated environment accustomed to searching/hunting for water and forage while avoiding predators. In a herd environment you can also watch a horse use scent for identification of the other horse - you've all seen the nose-to-nose greetings - or even "track" other horses including sniffing manure, hoof prints, etc.
Scent is particularly important to the broodmare with a foal. A common trick to getting a mare who just lost a foal to adopt an orphan foal is to put the deceased foal's blanket on the orphan inside out so there is enough of the dam's foal's scent that she is more willing to accept the mixed new scent and adopt the orphan.
Some horses are more tuned in for "tracking" using scent and other senses, like ranch horses seeking cattle on the range. Using the senses routinely becomes a habit encouraged by their normal routine. Prior discussion on this suggested those horses closer in daily environment and heritage to a "wild" environment would probably be more successful in air scent training.
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