fractious horse

Question
I have owned this horse for about 18 months now.  He was free - 'nough said. But I am not giving up. To my knowledge his background is as follows: was transported from Alabama at 5 years, emaciated, with several others, one of which was his stall mate. The next seven years the owner thought he had a club foot,m read- atrophied heels from constant overreaching. They rode him 2-5 times per year for 7 years in parades - he is very showy - stunning.  Gave him to next home. Next home - not capable of riding him and caring for an unrideable horse - gave to me. I was formally trained for several years, then became a western hack for a few more. I am not a trainer - I am a back yard enthusiast.  His bad habits at the time were tail biting so group think figured lone horse home would work. This is not my first horse - that was an Arab - loved him.  Ran a few hack summer stables so not unaware of horse sense, but this is the first horse that has had me feeling completely incompetent. Probably because he has never been well trained - I assumed.  He is a TWH 14 years. When I got him he was barefoot and stumbling. Have a performance black smith working on him for a year, he now has all four going well.  I sent us to a trainer - her verdict is incourageable and untrainable - I disagree. She is a professionally trained rider and makes a living buying potential, training and selling. Her expectations are higher than mine.  I took him home after three months, we worked daily and he became docile and board. His treat (and I know this was wrong but it was good for him at the time) for a good arena work out was to strut through the neighborhood going where ever, within reason, he wanted to go.  Usually to visit other horses, which made him crazy. But we would begrudgingly make it home.  A change of job required me to take him back to trainer for boarding.  After finally finding the proper neighbor for him,(and they did a lot of rearranging to keep him away from mares) he calmed down after a few weeks after finding a new buddy.  I started him in the arena- penning wasn't necessary at my home.  He has been fractious, distracted, and on high all the time. Not the horse I had at home.  I thought he would calm down, but hasn't two months later. Due to job, have only been riding 2-4 times per week - not daily. I decided to start him over again in the pen, just letting him cut loose and in the end (an hour later) we did a little work i.e three tight circles on a line, and he was still not focused on me 1/3 of the way around.  He won't join up at this barn. At home he would.   He is so distracted no matter in the arena or pen. He can be distracted for a few seconds if something new comes into view, but goes back to focusing on the barn(s) and his old stable mate or any horse in the area om short any horse, but me. We moved his old stablemate recently, he has not bonded with the new stable mate.  My plan is to ask for him to be moved often for more mates, to desensitize him to any one horse, but that is only half the problem.  I know I am part of the problem.  I have many people giving me advice.  Unsure how to proceed.  Help.

Answer
Stop trying to find all the faults in the horse, if you don't have the time then don't expect the horse to have the time. Just spend time with the horse, ride the horse and try and learn the horse and listen to the horse.  I don't care how much you know and neither does the horse. Just be a good rider and leader and stop chasing all the fixing of all the so called problems.