2025 Reflections (Written a Little Late)

Today I learned something that completely made my day: Elephant Nature Park in Thailand is using my oatmeal pet shampoo.

A client of ours volunteers there and brought some shampoo with her on her last trip. They liked it so much that they asked for more. That feels incredibly special — especially right now, when I still feel like I’m starting this year already behind.

Have you ever felt so behind it almost feels like you’re back at the beginning? That’s how I feel writing my 2025 end-of-year wrap-up in February of 2026. Better late than never.

Last year came with plenty of challenges. One of the biggest was purchasing a new x-ray machine. It wasn’t easy, but we’re finally on the other side and truly enjoying the improved capabilities it’s brought to our practice.

I also traveled to Las Vegas for a week-long business meeting and spent much of the following months implementing what I learned. I attended the Littleton Equine annual education event for veterinarians and stayed actively involved with the Evergreen Chamber of Commerce after joining the board. It’s been a great opportunity to connect with so many talented business owners in our community.

We hosted a very successful Kentucky Derby fundraising party, and my oldest daughter graduated from high school — a milestone that still feels surreal. We hired an Executive Director for the ResqRanch, had a booth at the Evergreen Rodeo (always a highlight), and the following weekend hosted a Solstice ceremony at the ranch led by a sound bath healer.

Summer was full. In July, I held several horse training clinics, refinanced the ranch to a lower interest rate, and yes — finally bought a new refrigerator. August brought more clinics, followed by sending my daughter off to college. In September, we hired a professional videographer to help elevate our YouTube channel, and we again attended Riley’s Pet Store’s annual event, which we always love being part of.

October took me to New York for the American Association of Fish Veterinarians conference, followed by some cherished family time in the city. November included a fundraiser at the Aurora horse racetrack and volunteering for the local high school play. December wrapped up with Pet Pictures with Santa — and this year we were thrilled to host CSU’s Sci on the Fly van, all the way from Fort Collins.

On the ranch side, we were incredibly grateful to receive donations including an automatic front gate opener, roofing materials for additional animal shelter, and a John Deere Gator. Training with the young fillies progressed beautifully, and overall the animals remained healthy. I continued caring for Oliver, including catheterization for ongoing urinary issues that are now being managed successfully with Chinese herbs after traditional treatments failed.

Unfortunately, our new Executive Director didn’t work out, so for now we’re holding off on filling that role. Instead, we’ve focused on strengthening the team at Aspen Park Vet Hospital. We lost some staff members but gained some truly wonderful new ones, and for the first time in a while, I can say we have a full team that’s working well together.

Last year I read The Science of Scaling, which helped me gain laser focus on my mission: to educate 100 million people in the power of positive reinforcement animal training (R+) within the next three years. Our growing YouTube channel is a major part of how we’ll reach that goal, and I’d be so grateful if you’d check it out. Once we reach a certain threshold, we qualify for Google grants, which will go a long way toward feeding the animals.

Why do I care so deeply about R+? Because as a veterinarian, I know that training keeps animals healthier and out of the vet’s office. If you can brush their teeth, trim their nails, clean their ears, and perform basic care cooperatively, you strengthen the bond you share, help both of you live longer, and save money in the process. The more people I can help learn these skills, the more good we can do for animals and the people who love them.

And because this is the year I am fully committed to achieving that audacious goal, I’ve made a big decision. After months of soul-searching, I’ve decided to give away my Horse Training Masterclass for free.

Yes — free.

This program contains over 150 hours of college-level animal behavior and training, distilled into about three hours. Whether you train horses or not, the principles are the same. Let 2026 be the year you transform your relationship with your animals. Learning about R+ changed my life forever, and I truly believe it can do the same for you. You can now access the entire course for free at ResqRanch.org.

Once we have this running smoothly, my next goal is to do it again — this time focused on pets.

2026 is the Year of the Horse, and I’m choosing to take that as a sign. A sign that this is the year we break free and reach new heights together, creating a kinder, more compassionate world for animals.

As always, thank you.

Dr. Q and the crews of Aspen Park Vet Hospital & the ResqRanch

Our newest training video is below. Check it out for tips on training your horses for trailer loading.

​Check out my YouTube channel for a daily "Good Morning!" from the rescues and lots of free tips and training resources. https://www.youtube.com/@the1drq