I think you are right on track with contacting APHA. That will get you to the most current registered owner anyway. Good luck with re-habbing a kicker. I just had to give up on one after a broken wrist, bruised ribs and a full double-barrelled chest kick. NOT the way to increase your breast size, let me assure you. He also came after me with full intent and these were separate incidents, months apart. This may be a can of worms you are better off not opening.

ETA: The cowboy who bought him knew just what he was buying and was better equipped to handle the problem than me.

Yep, I know what you are saying. Until I find him(If I find him), it would be a very slow process, just tring to build up trust. It may take years before I could even touch him. So much mental damage has been done. I may NEVER be able to saftly do anything with him, and that would be fine to. I want him here with me, so at least I know he will never go to slaughter. I was the very first person to see, and touch him.

Also, sorry about the messed up posts. I messed it up!! A first timer!

good luck, i hope you find him.  just goes to show you what can happen when good Horses end up  with the wrong owners .     it would,nt hurt to contact http://www.netposse.com/  ???  

 a couple years ago I was given a 2 yr old ,unmanageable Horse . he was dangerous, hot-headed and very spooky.  the owners  had  got him as a weaniling becouse He was  SO DARN CUTE , by the time he was 2 they could,nt  even get a halter on him.   long story short....He is as sweet as a puppy and the most calm laid back 5 yr old , not a mean bone in his whole Body !!!    just had the wrong owners....it does happen !

For the safety of your family I pray you never find this horse.  Good intentions get horse people killed every day.  Think with your mind, not your heart!  Why would you want to even be around such a monster?

Remember the horse he used to be and MOVE ON!  There are lots of good horses out there that don't need fixing.

"When we breed an animal we are responsible for it being alive."

I'd say it is something kin to adoption,only,when you sell something,be it an animal,house,car,whatever,you can't control what happens in the future.

I'm glad I don't feel responsible for the horses I've raised and sold,I passed that on to others and have since  moved on.

No,that doesn't mean he is legally yours.Many folks especially these days choose for some reason or another not to register a horse.Plus,he is a gelding,isn't he? Papers aren't that important to some folks on a gelding.(not saying they aren't to me,but,I'm not the other owners.0

we were trying to buy a horse trailer from a guy who never titled it in his name.We found it to be still registered in the previous owner's name.However,we had to go through legal channels to get our money back (our downpayment) from the guy we BOUGHT it from, not whose name the title was still in.It was no longer "legally" his altho the state might have had some issues with that,it belonged to the person who had paid for it and had it in his possession.

Same with your horse.Gee,there are just too many good horses out there to spend a lot of time and effort on one that you have heard is now an "outlaw." You don't need him,really,mam.

I know now why our trainers/breeders say that once a horse leaves their care and place,they really don't want to know anything about it in the future.

It is unfortunate for this horse who has apparently been handled in a substandard manner. It too would break my heart to know this...but this horse is now mentally/physically mature. In my opinion, whatever has been done to him is now set in his mind. I think age plays a factor in trying to undue the damage that has been unfortunately done to him.

One question, the things you have heard about him trying to kill three people......How accurate are these rumors?

I have to agree with houndog.I have done the same.Once,I made a sudden move behind a young (3 yr old gentle and broke,not just green) horse who was already nervous at being by himself out of the pasture.I wasn't thinking,and,I was nearly kicked.

A friend's farrier was killed by his personal horse that he had for 20 years+ when he dropped a brush behind the horse and reached down suddenly to pick it up.out of pure instinct,the horse kicked out and unfortunately kicked him in the head.Anyone can receive a kick from their own well trusted horse.

Having said that,I still don't think it is a good idea to try to locate a horse that you for whatever reason,had to let go.There are just too many good ones out there,especially at this particular time,if you're wanting another horse.I personally wouldn't want to try to take this horse back and deal with his issues.

Stories about horses and what issues they have vary from people.I've owned a few that later I was told had this issue or that and I never saw it or had that issue.A gal brought a Qtr gelding 4 y.o. into a boarding barn I was at years ago.Said she just bought him.Said she was told he was nuts and would bolt/rear and such.Came with a shank ed curb bit etc.Darn he was somewhat green but in a snaffle and a few afternoons of riding EVERY afternoon in two weeks he RODE ANYWHERE.Traffic,dogs,other horses.He was a good boy.He was SCARED and green.I heard 15  years later she still had him,rode often an he had been a wonderful horse with no formal schooling and such.I do know a so called trainer near here that got kicked out a stall and had emergency surgery,liver or pancreas bleeding.Walked into a stall with a embryo transfer mare that had her butt facing out and trainer slapped her on the butt to turn her.Got both barrels.Later the owners said she was a sale mare for cheap and hardly even led.Anyhow the stories go on and on.

There are too many great horses out there to put yourself and your child in danger with a horse that is full of foolishness.  Do yourself a favor and move on.

Marla