Help on catching an extremely difficult horse

Question
Hi Michael,

 I've actually talked to you before in regards to mustangs. But this time, it has nothing to do with training. Well back in November, our mustang gelding was giving us a hard time, and we just didn't have enough time to complete his training. So we gave him away to an old family friend. When we brought him up to the farm he was going to be staying at, the field they wanted to put him in was full of cows, sheep and one other horse. Then though, we had no idea how much space they were kept in.
So we went last weekend and again today to see him. The only problem is...we CANNOT catch him. The closest I was able to get, was enough for him to sniff my hand. The area he is being kept in goes miles back! He is no where near the sweet horse he used to be. He has compltely lost his trust in humans. And the new owner we believe has not tried to touch him in the months he's been there.
I have come up with multiple ideas on how to catch him though. The one I think I've concluded to go with, would be to tie up the other horse, then get a grain bucket and place it inside the barn. Once he sees it in there, leave the barn, then as soon as he's inside the barn, close off every exit.
If you have any other good suggestions please help. We don't really care on an effective way to continue catching him, we just want him in a stall, and that be it.

Answer
Alexandra-

Your best bet is to make the field smaller.  It is not as bad as it sounds.  You'll need a few people to help.  Using ropes, and draping old tarps or blankets over the ropes, you can make temporary fence.  The best idea is to form a "chute" that narrows down into a small enclosure and then you should be able to deal with the horse better.

You can try the grain idea, but if the horse has been out the entire time - and possibly not grained routinely, then he may not come in the barn.  Plus you may be risking some damage to the barn.

In the end you have to go with what you are comfortable doing - but I have had great luck making chutes and driving the horse into a small enclosure.

I'm sorry to hear that he has taken a few steps backward, they usually bounce back quickly though.
Best of Luck!
Michael Hockemeyer
Kicking Bear Mustangs