Riding & Writing...: Between the Ears Expeditions: Riding with Amelia and Lauren

Between the Ears Horse Expeditions
www.between-the-ears.com Photo by Lauren O'Toole

Between the Ears Horse Expeditions

By Gina McKnight

From the June 2024 Issue of Florida Equine Athlete. www.floridaequineathelete.com

No Duplication Without Permission

This month we welcome world equestrians, Amelia and Lauren, the proprietors of Between the Ears Expeditions: Gritty and wild horse treks. A fascinating endeavor, Amelia and Lauren host international horseback riding vacations that “combine adventure and simplicity with one goal — to connect you to the natural world, the people around you, and yourself.”

The duo has an extensive background with horses, conservation, world travel, and connecting cultures. I recently caught up with the pair to ask about horses and their worldwide riding vacations.

GM: I follow you on Instagram and enjoy seeing all of the beautiful trails and horses. The beautiful scenery is enticing, especially from horseback! You must have an extensive horse history. Tell us about your first encounter with a horse...

AG: The first horse I knew properly was at camp my mom signed me up for when I was nine. His name was Tuffy – a retired Western pleasure Appy with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. His trot was like butter and no matter how much we giggled and bounced around, he never broke stride. An absolute legend. I was instantly hooked.

LO: My grandfather was a horse-lover and it was his goal to get me to love them as much as he did. He definitely succeeded. I first sat on a horse at around four, then went to horse camp at seven, and begged my parents to put me in lessons when I got back. It was pretty unstoppable after that!

GM: In general, what horse breed makes the best expedition horses?

AG: The best breed totally depends on the terrain! In the US, Quarter horses and Mustangs, some with a little Draft mixed in, hold up super well for varied mountain terrain and long days. In South America we work with Criollos, some mixed with Percheron or other Draft breeds, and sometimes Quarter horses. When I worked for a year in Namibia doing desert treks, the Arabians, and Arabians crossed with Warmbloods or Quarter horses, had amazing stamina for crossing hundreds of kilometers through the desert.

LO: This definitely depends on the expedition! All sorts of things like terrain, length of ride, etc. can play into this. As much as possible, we like to use horses that are local to an area, because we find that they are well accustomed to the terrain we’ll be riding if they were born and raised there. More than breed, I personally love a horse that’s brave and has a lot of try. A forward walk is the cherry on top of all of that.

GM: What is the process for scheduling a packing trip? Will you ride the trail, too?

LO: The first thing we have riders do is fill out a Rider Information Form, which gives us more insight into their riding ability and medical history, as well as a few other things that help us get to know them a bit. Once each ride has six confirmed riders, we reach out to collect deposits. We generally suggest riders wait until that time to purchase flights, but it generally doesn’t take too long after we release dates for rides to be confirmed. We currently come along on all of the rides we offer, which is of course the absolute best part of the job!

GM: When I book a trip, what should I bring?

AG: The answer will vary a little depending on where you ride (we’re going to release new rides outside of Patagonia soon!). But as a rule of thumb for clothing – comfortable riding pants and shoes, sometimes half chaps to protect your lower leg from rubbing and from brush, sunglasses and a hat, and long-sleeved shirts! Focus on comfort, jeans might rub differently after hour seven than they do after hour one if you’re not used to riding in them, and sun protection. As for other things – power banks to keep your phone charged, SPF Chapstick (no one wants lizard lips), and baby wipes!

GM: These are dream vacations for any horse-lover! What level of riding experience do you require? Are novice riders allowed? How do you measure experience? What is the minimum/maximum age of riders?

LO: Riding experience is entirely dependent on the ride! In Argentina, we ask that riders are intermediate and above and comfortable at all gaits in open terrain. While most of the ride is at a walk because of the mountainous terrain, on the last day there are long stretches of cantering and we want to make sure everyone is comfortable with that. While riding ability is of course important, what’s also important is the attitude and open-mindedness you bring! Currently our rides have a maximum of eight riders, but that also changes from ride to ride. We generally say the minimum age is 18 and the maximum age is 70, but we take it on a case-by-case basis and fitness and riding ability are more important.

GM: Where in the world is your favorite place to ride?

AG: Argentina has to be up there – it took “remote” to a new level. The way the horses move so confidently over the mountains, drinking unfiltered water from mountain streams, camping beneath the stars with the horses tied nearby grazing… it feels like a fairytale. But there are so many amazing places out there, my to-visit list is miles long.

LO: Argentina will always be at the very top of my list, just because of the experience Amelia and I had on our solo long-distance ride there. The scenery is incredible, but it’s really the people that make it so special. The horse culture is also unmatched. I spent a season working on an estancia in Uruguay, and the riding there was also amazing. We are currently in the works planning a ride there, and I can’t wait to be back cantering through lush green fields, splashing in lagoons, and watching some of the most epic sunsets on horseback. It’s a really unique place and feels a bit untapped for long-distance rides.

GM: Besides the proprietor of Between the Ears, what do you like to do for fun?

AG: I love riding, in particular packing, ranch work, trail riding, and working with young horses. Otherwise, I love being outside hiking or biking and my newest budding passion is salsa and bachata dancing!

LO: Well of course I also love riding for fun! But outside of that I love traveling and experiencing different cultures, hiking and being outdoors, and spending quality time with my friends and family.

GM: What are your future plans for Between the Ears?

AG: We’ve got a couple fun rides in the works for 2025, focusing on diverse riding experiences that have an authentic tie to the place we’re riding in. Stay tuned for new rides in Uruguay and Kyrgyzstan!

LO: We are looking to grow organically and in a way that feels authentic to us, so for now we are constantly searching for rides that match our mission of connecting people with the land, horses, themselves. We have our Uruguay ride in the works and are also working on some things in Central Asia. New Zealand is also on the radar as well! Our goal is to create a community of adventure loving riders who want a deep connection to the place they’re riding through, so we’re not looking to offer rides just for the sake of offering them if they don’t align with those values. We also are always looking for and planning exciting and new rides for ourselves as well!

GM: A definite bucket-list vacation! Riders like me appreciate riders like you who provide out-of-the-box opportunities to share our love of horses, the outdoors, and visiting other cultures. Thank you! One more question… What does horsemanship mean to you?

AG: To me, along with the overarching values of feeling, softness and timing, horsemanship means honoring all that the horse has to offer and developing a partnership with them. One of the reasons I love ranch work and packing so much is that the horse is alive in their surroundings and participating in the task at hand. It becomes a partnership between rider and horse, a flow of communication.

LO: Horsemanship to me is the partnership you build with the animal and the ways in which you build it, based on trust and fair communication. Those things can be built in a lot of different ways, but there’s no better feeling than finding that with a horse.

Connect with Amelia and Lauren:

https://www.between-the-ears.com/

https://www.instagram.com/between_the_ears_expeditions/