Redhen has a point. I got 2 horses through abandonment from a woman who was boarding them. There is a time limit on that sort of thing. She was told that she didn't even have to go through court or anything - the horses were hers and she could do what ever she wanted with them. She was going to take them to auction so I bought them and found them good homes instead. Considering you've been trying to do what ever to get him back the abandonment issue might not apply, but you may want to double check...