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The Challenge | The Trainers and Students | Event Information

Sunday, June 20

This last week Zaza and I have been working more and more with me throwing m weight onto her back and laying on top of her to let Zaza become accustom to the weight. Finally, after a few days of her sitting there looking at me with her foot cocked, I was able to swing on and off with very little objection from Zaza. Honestly the worst she has done at this point was scoot to the side. I am so proud of her.

Wednesday, June 9

Zaza has been improving so much in the last week and a half, especially since our time has been very limited due to bad weather. We have continued to work on ground work and with the saddle and bridle. Flexing and control have been two things I have really concentrated on with her and she excels greatly with both! Lately we have been working with a tarp, and Zaza improves every day. We are now to the point where she will walk over it with water inside it without any fuss.

Zaza is truly a smart and willing mare and I do believe with time and patience she will make one heck of a horse.

Wednesday, June 2

I picked Za Za up on April 30th from her foster home in North Branch. We arrived home and let her settle in for a few days, getting use to all the new surroundings, horses, dog, cats and llamas. Next came the barrels, poles, cones, tarps, plastic and paper bags, bikes, and even one of our own young horses who wanted to dress up for Halloween a bit early and be a ghost (he stuck his head in the bag and walked around with it!). She was NOT too thrilled with that! We have also found that she prefers to be outside with our ponies as opposed to being in a stall and is very, very sociable and gets along with everyone! She is certainly not the Alpha mare that we were told to expect – even our Mini rules the roost over her. She has not even tried to fight back or challenge any of the horses in with her – she just backs off and walks away, and enjoys their company. She has not challenged the electric fence and seems to understand the boundaries.

We have been working on longeing and flexing, to which she learned quickly – she is very smart and very eager to please once she understands what is expected. When being round-penned, she turns in toward you as you ask her to change directions and is very respectful.

The last two weeks she has been getting use to having a saddle and bridle on. She flexes well and is learning to stand still while there is weight put into the stirrups. I can bounce the stirrups off her sides, lead rope over, under, in between her legs and she stands calmly with her back foot cocked. She picks up all of her feet and has learned to stand patiently and calmly at the hitching post. She walks up toward us from the pasture now and is learning to trust quickly. This week I will see how she reacts to having me on her back.

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To get in touch with Jilliane Paquet regarding Hasan's Zaza, or to set up a time where you can meet them both, please feel free to contact Jilliane via e-mail at jellojet13@hotmail.com or at 715-821-7911.

About Jilliane Paquet: Hi! I am honored to have been chosen to participate in the Minnesota Hooved Animal Rescue - Trainer's Challenge of the Unwanted Horse.

I started riding horses when I was 7-years-old – my first pony, Chance, sure did teach me a lot about what you do and do not want in a horse! He is a good boy, but it sure took some time and a lot of learning to sit bucks and anticipate his tricks and to “retrain” him to be a safe mount for my two sisters who are 12 and 9.

My now 38-year-old QH Jet is who I attribute to advancing my riding skills to the next level. We accepted him from a friend as a trail horse for my dad, but oh, he still wanted to run! We rode many gymkhana events together, and even qualified for the Champ Show several years in a row. In 2007, Jet and I were honored to be recognized on the Purina Horse website, promoting their senior feed. . He is now semi-retired, and spends time hanging out at home with his 41-year-old buddy Smokey, who is blind.

Moving on from there, I have learned to ride a lot of different horses and found that no two ride the same and how to adjust to get the best out of each one. I have ridden Quarter horses, Appaloosas, Pintos, Thoroughbreds, and Arabians, and each teaches me new skills constantly. I guess my philosophy on training is that the biggest challenge is learning what advice to take with you, what advice to leave, and how to put it together to work best for the horse you are working with. It is my belief that there is no one right or wrong way to train a horse – they are all unique!

In my off-horse time, I ride horses at Rolling Rock Rescue, give riding lessons to supplement my “horse addiction”, am an honor student in the Ellsworth School District, and play alto and baritone saxophone in the concert, marching, jazz and woodwind bands. I am also a member of the Math League and Forensics Team, and participate and volunteer in the Pierce County 4-H Horse Program and Hay Creek Valley and St. Croix Riders Saddle Clubs. My future plans include attending college (hopefully one of the Ivy-League schools) to study to be a doctor, in the field of general surgery.

As my Arabian partner, Zaza and I get to know each other better, we will update you on our journey together. Wish us both good luck! .