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Thursday, July 16 2020 / Published in Weekly Feature

Sarah Invicta Williams-Echols: Enjoying Every Aspect of Horses

By Lyssette Williams

Portraits by Kristie Nichols

Four years ago, trainer Sarah Invicta Williams-Echols suffered a horrific fall off her heart-horse, Quincy Z, during the grand prix at the HIPICO Santa Fe Summer Series horse show. As she hit the ground, she knew she wouldn’t be dusting herself off and walking away easily from the accident.

“I had broken my neck — six fractures total,” Sarah said. The road to recovery seemed long and daunting. Sarah required two surgeries and rehabilitation for her broken neck. She leaned on her support network of loving friends, family, clients and horses. They in turn rallied around her and bolstered her through what would be a whirlwind process which included purchasing a home, and a very special engagement.

“I returned to the HIPICO horse show a couple of weeks after the accident,” Sarah said. “We went to watch the grand prix and unbeknownst to me, my now-husband, Lance Echols, proposed to me over the loudspeaker in the VIP tent. I truly married a unicorn! He not only took care of me after the accident, but also understands the commitment and passion it takes to be a professional in the horse industry. Lance has become an intricate and important part of our family business, Invicta Farms.”

Learning From Every Horse

Located at La Mesita Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Invicta Farms is run by Sarah and her mother, Caroline Invicta Stevenson. Originally located in Southern California, Caroline moved Invicta Farms to New Mexico in the 1960s. Growing up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Sarah was encouraged to ride every discipline under the watchful tutelage of her mother. “My mother is the most amazing horsewoman on the planet — she’s still my trainer, coaching me at home and lending a hand at shows,” Sarah said. 

Her mother did her best to provide Sarah with the best horses they could afford, which wasn’t much back then. These sometimes-quirky horses would teach Sarah valuable lessons. “I received my first pony at the age of 6 — a bratty mare named The Tooth Fairy,” Sarah said. “The Tooth Fairy always jumped around well for the older kids but would regularly dump me at the first fence.” That pony taught Sarah determination and, after getting over her first fence-i, helped Sarah qualify for Pony Finals every year.

Another horse that significantly shaped Sarah into the understanding professional that she is today was her junior jumper Sportif, an appendix Quarter Horse gelding. “He was a bit of a ‘four faulter’ and didn’t give anything away for free, but he gave me so much confidence,” Sarah said. “One week I would be junior jumper champion at a show and the next week, at a different show, he’d stop out in every class.”

Sarah’s partnership with Sportif would qualify her for prestigious horse shows like the Pennsylvania National, Spruce Meadows and the Olympic Festival in 1989, where she won an Individual silver medal. “Every horse that comes into your life, you can learn something from and improve your skills with,” Sarah said.

Though she had many opportunities to move away from New Mexico, Sarah always found her way back. “New Mexico is called ‘The Land of Enchantment’ for a very good reason — it’s gorgeous here, we have a great climate with four seasons, no humidity and it never gets very hot,” Sarah said. “The population isn’t that large so working here gets competitive. Every client matters — from the up-down lesson kid who comes once a week to the adult amateur who wants to show on the circuit with multiple horses. I love helping people with their ‘underdog’ horses. The hard work pays off as we build long-lasting relationships with our clients and they become family.”

Making It Back and Giving Back

After diligently rehabbing her injuries, Sarah worked her way back to the grand prix ring on two new horses: Foxxy, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, and Phinn, a 9-year-old Belgian gelding. “My heart-horse and I had just moved up to the 1.50m classes when he tragically colicked and died,” Sarah said. “When it came time to buy a new horse, I was extremely nervous. I hadn’t jumped a large jumper I didn’t know or own since my accident.”

Sarah found Foxxy through fellow show jumper Andy Kocher. “Foxxy is braver than I am and fills me with confidence. On her, I feel competitive again. I call her my ‘Jumping Jalapeno,’” Sarah said. “In the warm-up ring, she can be lazy like a large pony but when you walk into the competition arena, she’s all business. On course, she can get strong, which is challenging since I still have nerve damage on my right side from the accident. Brad at Equisport made custom reins for me which work really well, but I can’t wear gloves with them.”

Sarah’s other horse, Phinn, was also purchased from Andy.  She competed the gelding in the 1.30m classes in 2019 with the goal to compete in the 1.30m championship at the AON/USHJA National Championship in Las Vegas. “He’s the one to look out for,” Sarah said. “He’s a bit of a sleeper but super scopey. He’s also a bit of a pickpocket! If you’re wearing a telephone or radio on you, he’ll take it off your body, sometimes just taking the antenna.”

While she still loves riding, traveling to shows and coaching, Sarah has taken a step back professionally. A self-described high-strung type-A personality, she admits to mentally calming down post-accident. “I don’t suggest breaking your neck to improve yourself, but it gives you humility,” Sarah said. “I’m a much more empathetic and sympathetic trainer and rider. I better understand people’s fears. I’m also gentler with myself — I used to really beat myself up when I made a mistake. Last year I ‘chocolate-chipped’ to a 1.40m wall in Vegas in a qualifying class, but I forgave myself and moved on.”

Stepping back has provided Sarah the opportunity to mentor young hunter-jumper professionals — a task she finds important to the longevity of the industry. “None of us will be around forever,” Sarah said. “Those of us who have been in the business a long time need to share our knowledge with the up-and-coming generations and really support them as they learn. Most young professionals only know how to get on and show a horse. Showing all the time is detrimental to our horses, clients and industry at large. As mentors, we need to guide young professionals on proper horse care, picking and choosing the right horse for our clients. Each client is different, and each horse is different.”

Sarah’s love for horses is evident in every word she speaks, and living through her accident has given her a renewed sense of purpose and a fresh outlook. “Every day I feel so lucky,” Sarah said. “Horses are amazing animals and we get to spend our lives with them. There are so many wonderful kids whose lives I’m an integral part of as their coach and mentor. I help so many adults accomplish their lifelong dreams. I watch riders go around in their first classes, and it brings a tear to my eye to see how much horses give us and how much people enjoy riding.”

Photos by Kristie Nichols, moonfyrephotography.com

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Tagged under: grand prix, New Mexico, olympics, Sarah Invicta Williams-Echols, showjumping, success-story

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Marie Meyers has been around the world because of Marie Meyers has been around the world because of dressage, but it’s her farm in Moorpark, California, that has captured her heart. The farm and the business that thrives there represent Marie’s lifelong journey—a journey made up of good friends, spectacular horses and relationships made to last.

Marie was raised in Southern California, and spent her childhood playing just about every sport under the sun, but she didn’t discover riding until she was 14 years old. “I loved animals so much, so I started taking lessons. I did jumping at first, but I was very bad at that, for sure!” Marie laughed.

After some time, Marie moved on to take lessons at Foxfield Riding Academy and began riding dressage. “I fell into dressage by accident,” Marie said, “At the beginning, I thought it was extremely boring, but then I got hooked. By the time I graduated from high school, I had plans to travel to England to work for Franz Rochowansky, a former head of the Spanish Riding School.”

In 1988, Marie’s hard work paid off, and the pair was selected as alternates for the 1988 Summer Olympic Games. “They didn’t take the alternates that year, so we didn’t go to Seoul, but the experience, the training and the European Tour afterwards set me up for the 1990 World Equestrian Games in Stockholm, Sweden,” Marie said.

In addition to having success representing her country, Marie was busy with her life—marriage, a business, teaching lessons and clinics. 

Learn more about Marie in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more 🦄

📸Photos by Lindsey Long Equine Photography, www.lindseylong.com

#dressage #equestrian #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #dressagehorse #equestrianlife #showjumping #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #instahorse #dressur #horselove #eventing #equestrianstyle #cheval #dressagerider #horselife #horselover #pferde #love #riding #jumping #pferdeliebe #horseofinstagram #horsebackriding #paard #dressurpferd
We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

 ✨ALVESTA OWAIN✨
Thistledown Arctic Lore x Alvesta Fairy Lustre
13.1hh, Welsh section B
Stud Fee $750 (plus collection)
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Fairfield, VA

Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

#horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #hunterjumper #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #sidelinesmagzine
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