Dr. Jena Questen is a veterinarian and professional animal trainer who’s passionate about helping animals of all kinds. As a veterinarian who combines traditional and holistic veterinary medicine, she also uses the science of animal behavior to improve the lives of horses, dogs, cats, and even pet fish. Her wish is for all animals and the people who love them to live healthier and happier lives.
Dr. Questen (often referred to as Dr. Q) calls herself the “life coach for people with pets”. As a holistic veterinarian and animal trainer she is uniquely able to help people interact successfully with their animals using positive reinforcement methods to help both live happier, healthier, and longer.
The ResqRanch
The ResqRanch, located in Evergreen, Colorado, was established by Dr. Questen. It began as a place to educate people about the need for homes for ex-racehorses, but it has developed into much more. The ResqRanch is a non-profit that has been rescuing, retraining, and rehoming cast-off horses from the racing industry as well as other animals for over 20 years.
The ResqRanch is set apart from other animal rescues by their support of science-based animal training methods. Dr. Questen is a certified professional animal trainer and uses the concepts of positive reinforcement training. This means the animals have a choice in everything they do.
The mission of The ResqRanch is to educate, empower and inspire humans to influence their animal care choices in order to end the need for animal shelters, rescues, and mustang holding pens in the first place. The end result is that people earn confidence, satisfaction and fulfillment in the process.
Positive Reinforcement Training
As the founder of The ResqRanch, Dr. Questen believes that education can eventually end the need for shelters and rescues. To meet this goal, she provides both free and fee classes to children and adults on all things related to animal care, training, and safety around animals.
Positive reinforcement-based horse training uses techniques such as clicker training. It is not another gimmicky “horse whisperer” program. This is science-based training grounded in years of research and agreed upon worldwide by top trainers. Animals are given a choice in whether they want to interact with humans and there’s no force or fear in this type of training.
The ResqRanch is the premier positive reinforcement-focused animal sanctuary in the country, and they teach the principle that rescuing animals rescues people.
Support The ResqRanch
It costs about $750 a month to provide feed, general care, and hoof maintenance for one rescued large animal. Here are some ways you can support the work they are doing at the rescue:
- Support an animal. Even a small monthly contribution, such as $25, goes a long way to help defray the costs of ongoing care.
- Volunteer at the ranch. Horses are a lot of work. We need everything from grant writers to fence builders to paddock cleaners.
- Take a class at the ranch, online, or at a nearby clinic. Visit their website for the most up-to-date information resqranch.org.
- Follow links on their website and help them build towards the future.
- Subscribe to their YouTube channel:The1DrQ.
The ResqRanch is working towards constructing a dream facility that will include a children’s educational “museum” of pets, an aquaponics fish rescue, veterinary hospital for the animals that live at the rescue, a livestock barn for animals such as cattle and sheep, horse facilities, and even a lodge where visitors can stay for lessons and clinics.
Learn more: www.resqranch.org.
- Follow ResqRanch updates on twitter and Facebook at @resqranch.
- Contact by email at Info@ResqRanch.org or by phone at 303-838-3771.
- Watch informational videos, including those on positive reinforcement by subscribing to their YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/c/The1DrQ
See this article in the May/June 2022 online edition:
May/June 2022
Kim Roe grew up riding on the family ranch and competed in Western rail classes, trail horse, reining, working cow, and hunter/jumper. She trained her first horse for money at 12 years old, starting a pony for a neighbor.
Kim has been a professional dressage instructor in Washington state for over 30 years, training hundreds of horses and students through the levels. In recent years Kim has become involved in Working Equitation and is a small ‘r’ Working Equitation judge with WE United.
Kim is the editor of the Northwest Horse Source Magazine, and also a writer, photographer, and poet. She owns and manages Blue Gate Farm in Deming, Washington where she continues to be passionate about helping horses and riders in many disciplines.