Harness: Shaffer Equine makes a debut of sorts at Harrisburg this year

To say that there is a new kid on the block at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg, PA, would only be half-true of Shaffer Equine LLC. The farm has been in existence and selling yearlings for three decades, but 2026 will mark the first time they will be listed as consignors.

In addition to 12 homebreds, Shaffer will sell 22 yearlings as agent for a small handful of clients. Previously, Shaffer used Anvil And Lace or Midland Acres to sell their stock.

Located in the southwest corner of Pennsylvania near the West Virginia border, Shaffer Standardbreds has been involved in mare and yearling services since 1994. It is just a three-hour ship to Harrisburg, and that, along with the expansion of their broodmare band, is what spurred the decision to get into the consignor arena.

"We've been in business for a long time but not to this scale. We definitely grew over the past couple of years. And this year, going forward, we just started to get too many mares and yearlings, so we decided to start taking our own consignment to Harrisburg," said Jacob Shaffer, who runs the operation with his brother Kolt and grandfather Alan. "My dad [Wayne] passed away almost two years ago, but it's pretty much still all just family. We have a couple outside employees, but it's family-owned and pretty much family-run."

For Shaffer and family, the decision to consign really doesn't change much other than dealing with the logistics of staffing. They were already breaking their yearlings and prepping for the sale.

"We got a bunch of staff hired for Harrisburg, which we kind of got lucky. We got some really good people coming to help work the sale with us from other farms and stuff like that. It takes an army, that's for sure," said Shaffer.

When asked about his 34 yearlings at the sale, Shaffer was quick to point to a couple of his clients' horses before offering up one of his own that stood out. You could sense that he is a straight shooter without a hidden agenda.

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The first Shaffer horse sells on day two at Harrisburg when HIPs 185 to 595 will go through the ring. Exactly half (17) of their consignment sells on that Tuesday, with HIP 269 Caribbean Coast one of the highlights, according to the proprietor.

Owned and raised by Paul Hershberger, Caribbean Coast is a Pennsylvania eligible daughter of Costa Rica ($1.3 million) and just the second foal from that mare. Adding to the intrigue is that the black filly is by Captain Corey.

"She came here for a little while. [Hershberger] was actually moving places and asked us to take her. So we had her for two months or something. So I was around her then and got to watch her in the field and stuff like that," said Shaffer. "I think she reaches really far for a medium-sized horse like her, and she's really clean-legged and straight. I think her gait really is something you really want to grasp onto."

A few numbers later at HIP 273 comes Lillit Grace, a filly Shaffer sells for Pleasant Hill Farm and Patrick J. Hoopes. This one is just the third foal from Credit For Gab and comes with an interesting stallion change from Newtown Cheetah and Greenshoe to first-cropper Volume Eight.

"The dam is a sister to Branded By Lindy ($561K). She's a pretty exciting filly," said Shaffer of the dual eligible Pennsylvania and Kentucky lady.

For Shaffer, he's very interested to see how the Volume Eight and Tactical Approach yearlings sell as they represent a third of his consignment.

"We have six Volume Eights, and I think we have five first-crop Tactical Approachs as well. They're completely different build horses. The Volume Eights are maybe a hair finer-boned, like more racy-looking. They resemble Chapter Seven for sure. The Tactical Approach ones we have, they're really big, muscular-looking horses and athletic," said Shaffer.

The one homebred Shaffer was fast to highlight is HIP 478 Karats Are Divine. Another by Captain Corey, Shaffer is hoping that the stallion switch will bring new life to the mare after a couple of lackluster foals from International Moni.

"She's an exceptional individual. I don't think I'd trade her for anything," said Shaffer. "She's big. She's got a little bit of weight on her and has the Captain Corey look. She trots like a Captain Corey."

From the family of $778K earner Personal Style, Karats Are Divine has eligibility in both Pennsylvania and Kentucky.

Those who like something a bit out of the ordinary should check out HIP 438 High Volume Caviar. Another from Paul Hershberger, this Pennsylvania eligible daughter of Volume Eight has a very visible white streak on one of her hind legs.

"He got one with a pretty cool marking there to her. She videoed really nice," said Shaffer.

With 24 trotters and 10 pacers, the Shaffer consignment is clearly trotter heavy, but at the same time it is a diverse group with yearlings representing not only Pennsylvania and Kentucky but also Ontario, New York, New Jersey and Ohio. And if you like what they have to offer this year, stay tuned because there is more to come.

"We're going to have a lot more of our own coming up in the years to come," said Shaffer, pointing to the 30 or so mares they currently have on the farm. "I'm sure we'll be dipping our toes into the Mixed sale again as well."