The 30-year-old's reputation was tarnished until his legal team proved a 'no fault or negligence' defence to a tribunal hearing with the world governing body, Federation Equestre Internationale. Food contamination was the key spur to Paget's case. His penalty ended up being time already served.
The tribunal stated they were "satisfied on a balance of probabilities that the PR [person responsible] has demonstrated that he bore no fault or negligence for the EAD [equine anti-doping] rule violation".
Paget's relief was counterbalanced by evidence of the stress involved with the admission he has a "few more grey hairs".
His preparation for the World Equestrian Games has subsequently been meticulous and preventative measures have been employed which might be more suited to television episodes of CSI.
"We've been doing tests on absolutely everything we could come into contact with between now and the world championships to make sure each lot of feed is free of prohibited substances and possible contamination," he says. "That's probably more than we'll ever need to do, but it's about making sure.
"The scary thing is you're never 100 per cent safe but we have bought enough of everything my horse needs for the world championships and tested every batch.
"All the tests have come back clean. We're doing the same with the supplements and anything else we use on the horse.
"There are other stupid ways it could happen, like if there was something in the fertiliser used on the grass he eats there, but that's not something you'd expect. Mind you, in my case, stranger things have already happened."
Paget admits the precautionary measures can't be sustained.
"No one can afford to test every batch, every time you go to a competition but you can do it for a certain amount of time like the world championships," he says. "Knowing I've done everything I can [for this week] makes me feel OK. I can't control anything else so I'm not giving it any more thought."
Compartmentalising is a concept to which Paget has become adept since his career crashed abruptly on October 14.
"In some ways, [the ban] worked quite well. Not a day would go by when I wasn't doing something on the case. I'd then break it up by going for a ride. I also did some training through private clinics. I enjoy working with up-and-coming New Zealand riders. I try to catch up with them and see how they're going every six months.
"I knew I had a good chance of being exonerated and getting to the world championships but that it wasn't going to be done before [the four-star events at] Badminton and Kentucky. I wrote them off early in the year. It was a slightly different preparation than normal but I wouldn't say it was bad.
"I've had incredible support from [Clifton Promise owner] Frances Stead and Equestrian Sports New Zealand.
"Normally people might run in that situation but everyone in my immediate team stuck by me."
For Paget, the tribunal decision remains a work-in-progress rather than offering any form of cathartic closure. Paget's currently ranked 379 in the world - he was as high as three midway through last year. More territory needs to be covered to secure total redemption.
"I still feel in the thick of it, like the job's not done. I've got to get through the world championships, then I'll probably realise the toll it's taken."
Five Kiwis aiming to ride high
1. Tim and Jonelle Price
The Prices are the first husband-and-wife team to make New Zealand's world championship team. In the most recent world rankings, Tim is eighth and Jonelle 11th. Both featured on the podium at this month's three-star event at Hartpury.
2. Andrew Nicholson
Had a quiet couple of four-star events at Kentucky (21st on Avebury) and Badminton where neither of his mounts finished. Form has been evident since - 13 of his 18 rides have finished in the top 10.
3. Follow the 2010 precedent
Bronze at the last World Equestrian Games at Kentucky proved a catalyst to bronze at the London Olympics. Nicholson and Mark Todd bought into a team, rather than individual, ethos and younger riders learned from the best.
4. Bruce Goodin
The Denmark-based 44-year-old has been assigned a spot in the separate showjumping discipline. A veteran of four Olympic Games, he picked up a win at the three-star 1.5m class in Frankfurt in December.
5. Anthea Dixon
The 32-year-old will be the country's first para-dressage rider at the Games on Australian-owned Doncartier. She became a paraplegic after a horse accident in 2006. A personal best score would see her in the top five.
