Breaking Barriers: Stephanie’s Historic Andes Journey

By: Natalia Imberti Posted: 07/12/2024

Introduction:

Stephanie Quintrell is on the verge of making history. In January 2026, she will become the first woman to overcome unique challenges to cross the majestic Andes on horseback, accompanied by her friends and supported by Ampascachi. Her story highlights her incredible strength and ability to turn obstacles into opportunities. Stephanie is an inspiring example of resilience, determination, and a deep passion for adventure.

Background and personal life.

1. Could you tell us more about your early years in Hampshire and what it was like growing up there?

   Born in Portsmouth in 1991, I was fortunate to grow up in a beautiful family surrounded by love and affection. I have one brother who is older than me and we had pets the whole way through my childhood. This is where my love of animals started. As a young child I loved visiting a friend of my Mum’s to see her ponies and horses. For my 10th birthday my parents paid for my first ‘proper’ riding lesson, and that was it- I was hooked. When I was 12, I got my first very own horse, and the joy and stress of owning horses began! I have been lucky enough to own my own horses since, with a short break without having one whilst I travelled overseas. Horses have always been so important to me, they have been my escape from real life and have got me through some really tricky times in life.

2. How did moving to the East Midlands to join your husband affect your life and career?

   Prior to 2019 I was able-bodied and leading a totally normal, but very hectic life. With a young son and my husband, Jon, serving in the British Army, our life was a balancing act between working full time, looking after the horses and family life. In 2019 I became very suddenly unwell and within 48 hours had lost my ability to walk. I lost the use in my right hand and started living with a whole host of really complex symptoms. I have been disabled with continuous chronic health to manage since then. Later in 2019, because our family’s situation had changed so much, we made the decision to join Jon at his posting in the East Midlands, having previously been ‘unaccompanied’. This means he would travel back down to be with us at weekends and would stay at the camp where he was based throughout the week. My health and disability had meant I needed care to be provided for me and was unable to care for our young son independently, who was 2 at the time. Jon didn’t want to be leaving us every Monday to go back and wanted to be the one who could care for me. Because of my illness, I had already given up my career of 10 years in the care sector, and life quite literally was turned upside down for me and everyone close to me. Moving 180 miles away was tough. I had to leave my family, my horses and my friends behind, but we continued to visit every other weekend since and spend as much time back ‘home’ as we can.

3. Could you share some experiences of juggling family life, especially with a young child, and managing your professional responsibilities?

   After becoming unwell and giving up my job, I suddenly found I had different responsibilities in life. Initially I was just getting through each day. Jon had to care for me, our son, cook, clean and work all at the same time. But after a long period of deterioration, my health levelled out somewhat and we found ways to manage my challenging symptoms more effectively. Then I started to build myself back up and slowly found I could manage to do more each day. In 2021 I came across Forces Wives Challenge (FWC), which is a non-profit facilitating adventures for military wives, and finally felt I found ‘my place’ again. My role with FWC developed from there with me going on to become Operations Manager. Our life is certainly a lot busier now, but it’s enjoyably busy, filled with incredible experiences and so much joy. It can be tough to manage family life, with work and the many medical appointments I have- but we find a way to make it work. We prioritise the things that are most important to us and ensure we take up exciting opportunities that present to us.



Career and Achievements

4. As Operations manager for Forces Wives Challenge (FWC), what are some of the key responsibilities and challenges you face?

   My role involves the day to day running of the organisation, planning challenges and adventures for our members, supporting our team of amazing volunteers as well as lots of other responsibilities I have. We are currently offering a really diverse range of challenges to our members, from sailing and paddle sports, to rock climbing and hiking up mountains, skiing and canoeing in Sweden and map reading and other skills training.

5. What motivated you to become involved with FWC and how has the organization impacted on your life and the lives of others?

   Before finding FWC I felt really lost and like I had no purpose in life. My illness and disability had taken so much away from me, and I had to find alternative things to occupy myself and to give me a sense of self-worth again. FWC gave me the purpose I was looking for. It enabled me to use my skills acquired over my career and put them to good use, in a role I was passionate about. It also allowed me to meet many other women who loved the outdoors and passionate about adventure. It provided me with a community that understood the challenges of being a military wife, and above all- supported each other.

6. Can you describe your role in the organisation and participation in the FWC Pyrenees Ride?

   I was the creator of FWC’s ‘Ride to Freedom’ which saw 8 military wives ride 130km across the Pyrenees mountains from France to Spain, following the WW2 freedom trails. I achieved a ‘world’s first’ being the first wheelchair dependent person to ride by horseback across the mountains. What started as a tiny idea for me to be able to take part in a challenge in a physical sense, as opposed to on the organisation side of things, ended up being this huge expedition that was quite literally life changing; for me and for the rest of the team. I led on the organisation side of things from the start, I found the provider we would use and worked closely with them to create the best expedition. We wanted it to be challenging and technically difficult.

   I was involved in all aspects of organisation and preparation for the expedition and then when the rest of the team were selected, we all took a lead on one specific area. One team member lead on the media side of it, one lead on sponsorship, one lead on kit and there were many other roles that needed covering. When on the expedition, we had one team member who was the team leader throughout the expedition and the whole team physically supported me (where needed) to complete the challenge.



Overcoming challenges

7. How did you cope with the sudden onset of your illness and what steps did you take to adapt to the new challenges it presented?

   The first 2 years of being ill were the hardest to get through. I had so much to get used to, and I remember feeling very bitter and angry by the situation I found myself in. I had lost all of my independence and all of a sudden needed help with the smallest of tasks, like picking up a cup to drink, or having a wash. That first 2 years was a period of grieving for the life me and my family had lost. My illness and disability from it meant I couldn’t work, couldn’t drive, couldn’t ride, couldn’t look after our 2-year-old son, and couldn’t even look after myself. Those first few years was all about finding ways to manage my complex symptoms, trialling different medications, trying to understand an illness that so little is known about and trying to find what our new ‘normal’ was.

   Getting a level of independence back was the first step. The reality is that I will never be independent like I used to be, but there are things I can do, and we focus on me continuing to do those things. Getting an electric power wheelchair was a big game changer for me, as it allowed me to play in the garden with my son or go out to a park with him and my husband. Everything was about finding the most successful way of doing things and learning how to keep me as healthy as we could, to allow me the best possible quality of life.

8. What motivated you to return to riding despite your physical limitations and how did you prepare for the Pyrenees challenge?

   I have ridden and owned my own horses for over 23 years, so it is fair to say riding is in my blood. I couldn’t imagine a life without horses and was desperate to get back in the saddle. I knew it would be a long slow process of getting riding again, and when I started, my only goal was to be able to sit on my horse again and walk a few steps- I knew this would give me a feeling of freedom that I had lost when I became disabled. My passion to be around horses has never diminished, I just feel ‘myself’ when I am with my animals.

   As my capabilities on a horse returned, I found this incredible sense of independence when riding. Suddenly I was no long dependant on my wheelchair, and I could run again! And my goal of how far I wanted to go with my riding again, kept getting bigger and bigger. I love getting out cross country jumping and riding for hours and hours in the countryside.

   Preparing for Ride to Freedom took many forms. I regularly did open water swimming to build my strength and stamina. I used a yoga ball to focus on building my core strength and I have an ‘Ijoy’ at home which simulates being in a saddle. I also of course spent as many hours as possible in a real saddle that I could! I did have to work really hard to get myself to the right fitness level to take on the challenge.

9. Could you describe any moments of the Pyrenees crossing that were particularly memorable or difficult?

   The memorable parts were probably the most challenging parts. On the 3rd day of riding, we had to cross a river, that required us to dismount and walk across a bridge. All other small rivers we had crossed, the rest of the team got off to cross but I stayed in the saddle. For this particular river, there was no way I could stay riding to cross it, due to how deep and fast the river was. The footbridge we used, whilst the horses crossed the river without us, was a narrow wooden bridge that my wheelchair could not fit across. So, we lowered me from my horse straight on the steps of the bridge and then I bottom shuffled across the bridge to reach the other side. The bridge was soaking wet from the heavy rain we were having and the fast-splashing river underneath. All the hours I had spent playing with my young son in soft play centre finally paid off, as I shuffled across easily! When I got to the other side, we got me straight back up into the saddle to continue our ride. That day was long and hard, and we had a storm closing in, that we had to beat to get to our campsite and set up for the night and we all definitely felt the pressure. But at the end of the day, the feeling of accomplishment was enormous!

   Another really powerful moment for me was when we rode across the border and down into Spain. I remember turning back to look over my shoulder as we descended the mountain and having this realisation that we had done it. We had achieved what we set out to, and crossed the Pyrenees, and I had become the first para-equestrian to ever do this. It was a really emotional moment and one that will stick in my mind forever.



Future endeavours and aspirations.

10. What was your inspiration for the creation of EPA (Equine Para-adventures) and what are your goals for this organization?

    I didn’t realise just how many people would be inspired through our Ride to Freedom expedition. The support I had throughout and after was incredible, and we inspired both disabled and able-bodied people. That feeling of showing the world what we are capable of is incredible and I realised I wanted to not only inspire others through my adventures, but I wanted to inspire and support others to have their own adventures too.

    I realised that there are so many equestrians like me out there, who are disabled but still want the excitement and enjoyment of ‘real’ riding and equine experiences. Whether that’s hacking out in the UK or taking on an expedition overseas, I want to be able to offer this to other disabled equestrians. This is what EPA is aiming to do. To offer real life equestrian experiences to other disabled people who are competent riders and who want more than to ride in an arena or a riding school horse.

    I also want to continue to use my experiences to inspire and educate others, both in the equestrian and non-equestrian communities and to disabled and able-bodied people. I want to raise disability awareness in a way that will make an impact on the future of disabled people.

    And above all, I want to show that the impossible, can be possible, with the right support, determination and passion.

11. Can you tell us more about the upcoming challenge of crossing the Andes in 2026, and how you are preparing for it?

    I am in a team of 6 incredible women to be crossing the Andes, in an expedition we have named ‘Ride to Independence’, and we are so excited for this. We will start in Argentina and spend 7 days in the mountains to ride across the Andes into Chile. We are honoured to be following the trail of José de San Martín, who led his army across the Andes to bring independence to South America who were under Spanish rule. Everything we need for the expedition will be carried on mules who will accompany us, including my wheelchair. I am excited to be attempting another ‘world’s first’ as the first para-equestrian to ride this trail.

    We are already preparing for this expedition, even though we are still a way away from starting in February 2026, but there is a huge amount to do. Physically we must be at our strongest for this challenge, as the days will be long and physically difficult. The riding will be technically challenge due to the altitude we will ride to, and it will take a lot of stamina to make it through the week, for both my able bodied team mates, and me.

    We are also preparing mentally for this challenge. This is such an important aspect to team building, as we must be a strong and supportive team to be able to get each other through this tough challenge. So, we are regularly doing team building exercises on our virtual meetings and we will be meeting up to do physical team building as well, as much as we can before the expedition. With 2 of our team members currently overseas accompanying their husbands on military postings, we are having to be creative with our virtual meetings and team bonding.

    We are also working hard behind the scenes to secure the funding we need to make the expedition happen. There are lots of costs associated with an expedition like this, including lots of expenses in the preparing stage. We are currently still looking for more corporate sponsors to support us and be part of this journey with us.

    We now have on board an incredible equestrian brand supporting us and supplying us with all our riding clothing and footwear for training and the expedition itself, and we are delighted to announce this organisation is Ariat Europe. To have such an outstanding brand supporting the team is just incredible and we are so excited to be working with them moving forwards.


12. What message do you hope to convey through your adventures and the work of EPA?

    The main message is to show ‘the impossible can be possible’. We want to show everyone how disabilities do not need to stand in the way of excitement, achievements and enjoyment. I truly believe if you want something enough, you can make that happen, and if because of disability, that looks a little different- it doesn’t mean it is unachievable and you shouldn’t give it a go.

Personal ideas and advice

13. How do you stay motivated and positive in the face of adversity?

    I am fortunate to have the love and support of my family and close friends. They have picked me up on darker days and reminded me what I have in my life to fight for. My disability challenges me every day, but I remind myself how lucky I am to have the life that I do, and I am constantly looking at what I can do in life, not thinking about what I can’t do. Of course there are days where maybe my pain levels are worse, or I have a health deterioration, when I do feel negative and bitter about my health and disability, but these days do not cloud the rest of the incredible days I have. I am 100% making the best of the situation I am in and am appreciate of the life I have.

14. What advice would you give to others facing similar challenges or disabilities?

    To take each day as it comes in the early days and always have a goal to be working towards. It doesn’t matter if that’s a tiny goal or a huge goal, and if it’s a short-term goal or long term. Having a goal will keep you motivated and pushing forwards. There is always light at the end of the dark tunnel you may be in, but you just might not be able to see it yet.

15. How do you balance your adventurous spirit with the practicalities of everyday life and your responsibilities?

    Sometimes with difficulty! Prioritising what is important to me and being realistic about my capabilities. First and foremost, I am a Mum, a wife, and someone who has a job they love and are passionate about. Luckily for me, my adventurous spirit is only heightened by these roles! There are days when I have pushed myself too hard and need to rest and recover, but mostly I am getting the balance right and therefore able to do all the things I want and need to be doing.



Personal reflections

16. What are some of the most important lessons you have learned in your life, from being diagnosed with your illness to achieving remarkable things?

    The absolute most important thing I have learnt through my experiences is about asking for help. I have always been a fiercely independent person who never wanted to admit to needing help, but my disability completely knocked that out of me! I learnt very quickly that I needed help with everyday tasks and therefore had no choice but to accept support. It doesn’t mean I liked to ask for help though! But over the years and especially during our Ride to Freedom expedition, I learnt that it is totally ok to ask and accept help and that with that support I could not only be successful in life but could go on to achieve remarkable things.

Community and Impact

17. How has your experience influenced or inspire others in the FWC community and beyond?

    The media opportunities we have had through Ride to Freedom meant that we could reach so many people both in the military community and wider community. Initially if anyone told me I had inspired them, I would shrink away from it in embarrassment, but I have learned to enjoy being an inspiration now. I have been overjoyed to see multiple ladies in our FWC community with health conditions and disabilities, take part in our challenges this year. That to me, is a reason to keep going and keep sharing my experiences.

18. Can you share any comments or stories of people who have been positively affected by your achievements and the initiatives you have been involved in?

    In early 2024 I was introduced to an incredible lady called Lisa, who was at the start of her disability journey. As a keen horse woman, she too has struggled to go through the loss of physical disability and subsequent loss of independence. We speak regularly, as well as meeting face to face a number of times too. I have no doubt Lisa will get back in the saddle, but to get her through the hardest days- she needed to see there is hope. The plan is for Lisa to be the first disabled rider EPA takes on an expedition after Ride to Independence has been completed.

    With her permission, I share some of her quotes below. Receiving messages like these reminds me exactly why I keep pushing myself and doing what I am doing.

    “The only disabled riders I can find information about are the ones who do dressage, and I'm just not interested! I love galloping and jumping and endurance rides, I need to see people can still do that so that I have hope.”

    “You are the person that I have needed in my life since I was told I needed an amputation! Just by a few messages you have given me more hope than the hours I have spent researching for para riders! I just wanted to let you know how much you hope you have just given me for an exciting future “

    “You've been more than a tiny part of my journey! You've been quite a significant part!”



Health and Wellbeing

19. What strategies or routines do you use to maintain your health and well-being?

    Living with a chronic health condition means I often need to think outside the box when it comes to looking after my health and wellbeing. I have to continually be aware of pacing myself, so I do not overdo it, but also need to get the balance just right and make sure I am active enough to stay at a good fitness level! Implementing rest days into my busy life is difficult as I do not enjoy making myself rest, when I could be doing far more important or exciting things! With my disability, it is important I am self-aware and knowing when I need to stop, or when I need help. This is a skill I have learnt over the last 5 years and something I am constantly developing. Ensuring we keep the parts of me that do work, working, is absolutely essential and I have a fantastic medical support team who help me with this, through medication and treatments. Lastly, I ensure I look after my mental health, which then allows me to look after my physical health successfully.

20. How do you integrate physiotherapy or other treatments into your daily life, especially with such an active and adventurous lifestyle?

    Timing is everything! My life is so busy, and I love it that way. But I do have to make a conscious effort to prioritise things in my life. I swim weekly in a specialist rehab pool now, which has been incredibly beneficial for my physical strength and mental wellbeing.

Advocacy and Representation

21. What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about people with disabilities and how do you work to combat them?

    There has been a huge amount of negative press in recent years about how disabled lives are not worth living, and I think this has been exceptionally prevalent in the equestrian community. Living with a disability is obviously not ideal and there are days when I feel I have been dealt an unfair hand in life. But the overwhelming feeling I have is that I am fortunate to have the life I have. I am passionate about showing that disabled lives are worth living. Having a disability doesn’t mean you are set to have a terrible life, missing out on the things you love. Instead, it means you may have to think outside the box to ensure you can continue to have a happy and fulfilling life doing the things you love. I hope that with the content I share online and, in the media, that I am an example or what an incredible life you can have whilst living with a disability. I hope I set a positive example to the younger generations who are living with a disability.

22. How important do you think it is to have representation and visibility for people with disabilities in adventure sports and other high-performance activities?

    It is so important for so many reasons. I have heard a few times recently the phrase; ‘You can’t be it if you can’t see it’. This really does make sense to me. How can a young person with a disability or maybe someone who has recently experienced an illness or injury that has made them disabled, see a positive life full of excitement and adventure if there is no representation in the media about it. I want to be that person who is showing the world what can be possible and who is inspiring other disabled people to push out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves. I truly believe disabled people who are currently in the media, have a responsibility to lead by example for future generations living with disability or health conditions.

Logistics and Planning

23. Can you describe the logistical challenges involved in planning and carrying out long distance equestrian trips, particularly with regard to your special needs?

    The logistics around completing a long-distance equestrian challenge for a disabled rider are complicated to say the least! The obvious challenges are; mounting and dismounting my horse, as I cannot stand so need to be lifted by 2 people into the saddle. Wheelchair transportation, as this needs to be carried with me at all times of riding- so it either gets carried by a pack pony or in the Andes, a mule. Medical care- my health needs are complex so things like my medication requires thorough foreplaning ahead of going overseas. But it is often the less-obvious challenges that need more preparation! For example; Personal care and hygiene- there aren’t toilets in the Andes and having a wild wee is not the same for someone who cannot stand! Or bathing- the rest of the team will bath in rivers, but getting a disabled person safely down to a river is often not even a possibility.

24. What role does your support network play in helping you achieve your goals and how do you coordinate with them?

    I am fortunate to have the most incredible support network around me, all of whom are my biggest cheerleaders. They truly believe in me and what I am capable of. I have a husband who not only encourages me and assists me to have these adventures but is often the brains behind the idea in the first place. We have a 7-year-old son, who really believe his Mummy is some sort of Supergirl and that is all the encouragement I need to keep going. I am also very lucky to have incredible parents, with my Mum being my absolute best friend, and although my wild ideas often terrify her- she still fully supports me! And we have Rob in our lives, who although technically is not related to us, he is as much family as my blood relatives are. He has believed in me every step of the way and was the one getting me up and out of bed in the early days of my health decline, ensuring I found a reason to keep going.

    I am also privileged to have friends who are so special to me and who support me in every way. Some of these friends were with me during Ride to Freedom and some will be with me in the Andes. I count myself lucky to have them all. Lastly, my wider support team; I have medical professionals who work tirelessly to find ways to improve my physical quality of life and who put the upmost importance on keeping the parts of me that do work, working!

Inspiration and role models

25. Who are some of your personal heroes or role models and how have they influenced your life?

    My absolute hero would have to be my Mum. She has such a strength inside her and a way to see positives in any situation. No matter how she is feeling, whether she is stressed, worried, upset, she still puts her loved one before her own needs. Watching my health rapidly decline as it did and seeing my whole life change with the disability I have, has not been easy for her. How could that be easy for any Mum? But she is there every day, putting on a brave face for me and leading by an example of courage and dignity. My Mum also doesn’t see her own worth, but see’s it in everyone else. I am fortunate to have had her as my role model growing up, and I am absolutely sure the strength I have to keep going every day, I have learnt from her

Philosophies and motivations

26. *What personal philosophies or mantras guide you through difficult times and motivate you to carry on?

    I think we all have to believe in ourselves. We have to be honest and true to ourselves, and above all believe that we can do anything if we put our mind to it. I guess this is where EPA’s motto of ‘showing the impossible, is possible’ has come from. I feel that we can make anything possible if we want it enough and if we are prepared to work hard to make it happen.

    When things get hard and I genuinely feel it is time to give up, I think about this and use it as a way to remind myself I can do anything I want- I just have to find a way.

27. How do you define success and how has this definition evolved over time?

    I have most definitely evolved in my thought process around success. For many years I viewed success as purely outcome based. For example; in a competition if you win- you are successful, but if you lose- you are not. Everything was ‘black and white to me’ and there was no in between. When I started to lessen expectations and make goals more realistic, I realised that every achievement, however small was exactly that- an achievement.



Visions of the future

28. Apart from your next challenge of crossing the Andes in 2026, what other adventures or goals do you have in mind for the future?

    I am aiming to continue to build Equine Para-adventures with the goal of offering equestrian adventures to other disabled riders and the long-term goal is to run our own equestrian centre for disabled riders to experience fun and exciting equestrian activities, to whatever level they want to ride at. Whether that is hacking out and beach rides, cross country jumping and galloping, or simply ‘real time’ at the yard with horses who have spirit and personality. I hope to return to the Pyrenees with other disabled riders, so they can experience the joy of riding these beautiful mountains on incredible horses. On a personal side, I would like to get out competing again, in team chases, hunter trials and show jumping competitions. We are purchasing my next riding horse in 2025, which will be a newly backed 3-year-old, so I will be training this horse with a view to competing them.

29. How do you see the long-term impact of EPA (Equine Para-Adventures), both for its participants and the community at large?

    When I talk with people about EPA, the feedback is always so positive. People seem to really buy into the idea of what we are going to do. There isn’t another organisation like EPA in the world (as far as I know), so there will be demand for it. Both disabled people and able-bodied people, have told me how inspirational it is listening to my experiences, so this gives me a drive to keep sharing the journey of EPA. There is so much potential for EPA and I hope to look back in 10 years’ time and be able to see the impact it has had on both the participants involved, and the wider community.



About Ampascachi

30. How did you get to know Ampascachi and decide to choose them as the horse-riding company to accompany you on your next adventure across the Andes in 2026?

    When I decided that the first major event EPA would do would be another attempt at a ‘world’s first’, I knew it needed to be something special. I also knew it needed to be supported by a provider who are experienced, knowledgeable, open-minded and passionate about the dream I had for this expedition. I did a huge amount of research, and when I found Ampascachi, I got this feeling they would be the perfect provider for EPA’s flagship expedition. When I spoke with the team in depth, I loved their shared enthusiasm for the aim of expedition and their can-do attitude. To have a provider supporting us who are as excited as the team are about being part of this, is the best feeling.

31. Do you know, or have you ever ridden a Peruvian Paso horse?

    No, I have never ridden a horse with this type of gait before and neither has anyone on my team! We are so excited though and are really interested in the differences with this breed of horses, as opposed to the horses we are used to riding. We cannot wait!

Closing:

In January 2026, Stephanie Quintrell will prove that barriers exist only in the mind. As the first woman to overcome unique challenges to cross the Andes on horseback, alongside her friends and with Ampascachi's support, her achievement will stand as a symbol of inspiration and bravery. Her passion for adventure and ability to push boundaries remind us that with determination, anything is possible. Follow her extraordinary journey and let her story inspire you to chase your own dreams.

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