Ayers Tops Derby Championship, Shafmaster Dominates in Grand Prix at Saratoga Classic II Horse Show

In two highlight classes of the week at the Saratoga Classic II Horse Show, Jeffrey Ayers and Amy Shafmaster led the victory gallop. Ayers and his own Cartel topped the $15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships, which is a new class to Saratoga Horse Shows in 2024. Shafmaster rode her own Infante SK to the fastest jump-off time in the $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix. The second week of the Saratoga Classic Horse Shows concludes on Sunday, June 23.

The $25,000 Saratoga Grand Prix had eight combinations qualify for the jump-off, but it was Shafmaster and Infante SK who would record the fastest time in the second round in 40.380 seconds. Alice Cassidy rode her own Ace of Spades, a 10-year-old German Sport Horse gelding by Discar, to second place with a clear jump-off ride in 40.830 seconds. Brooks Hull and Cebelon T, a 13-year-old gelding owned by Amy Shafmaster, were third in 42.479 seconds. Shafmaster was also fifth with a double clear ride on her own Umbrella ter Wilgen Z, a 15-year-old Zangersheide mare by Udarco van Overis.

“My plan was to try and do the inside turns in the jump-off, but sometimes he doesn’t turn that well to the left,” described Shafmaster. “He turned much better than I expected, and it worked out really well. We went inside the timers to fence eight, so that was the little bit that made me faster. It was close!”

Shafmaster has owned “Fante” for two years, and he has been a steady campaigner for the amateur rider. “As long as you keep the jumps up, he’s usually pretty fast,” she said of the 13-year-old KWPN gelding by Cannabis Z. “He’s been a great horse for me and wins a lot of classes.”

Shafmaster has always ridden as an amateur rider as she juggles her family, horses, and the family business, which entails a fleet of offshore boats that makes the company the largest single harvester of lobster in North America.

“I’m a true amateur,” she said. “I’ve been riding a long time and have a lot of experience, but an amateur for sure.”

While Fante has his moments in the barn – “He wants to be a sweetheart, but he will bite you,” laughed Shafmaster – she has found a mount that she will continue with her in the grand prix ring. “I’m older – 52 now – so if I find a horse that can cart me around, I’m keeping him!”

Shafmaster trains with David Jennings but had help from Kristy Smith this weekend. She also owns the third-place horse ridden by 17-year-old Hull. “Brooks is up here for the summer, and he will flat my horses at home when I’m working, so I gave him that horse of mine to show for the summer,” she explained. “He does a great job; he’s a really good rider.”

Shafmaster is from Portsmouth, NH, and while she hadn’t been to Saratoga Horse Shows in two years, she has been a longtime exhibitor at the shows. “I used to show back when the show was at the racetrack. I grew up coming here and always loved this horse show.”

Ayers Picks Up Second Major Win

After taking the Grand Hunter Championship on Thursday with Westport, Ayers picked up his second major win of the week in the 15,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby Regional Championships with Cartel.

Walking into the ring for the first round, Ayers had his eye on the two-stride combination, but Cartel had no qualms about the jumps. “He’s grown up quite a bit,” said Ayers of the 13-year-old Warmblood gelding by Conthargo. “This morning, we weren’t allowed to go in the ring to hand walk or hack, and he walked around the course like he owned the place. That is a big improvement; he used to be very aware of everything. He’s calmed down and does his job now. He has definitely grown into himself.”

Ayers has seen that growth throughout the nine years that he has owned Cartel. They have been successful in hunter derbies for four years, and Ayers was pleased to be able to compete the horse in an international derby in Saratoga.

“I like the higher jumps and great competitors in international derbies,” said Ayers, who scored 180 in the first round and 176 in the second for a total of 356 and the win. “Everybody was good today too. We only won by one point.”

That one-point difference gave amateur rider Callie Seaman and Diamante, her 14-year-old Oldenburg stallion by Diarado, second place, although they had the highest handy hunter score of 181. Keirstin Scott and Waterloo, a seven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Maria Brand, recorded a 347 for third place.

While Ayers has had a long partnership with Cartel, he is also a businessman and knows that Cartel is ready for a junior or amateur to take up the reins.

“This is a business to me, so they’re all for sale,” he acknowledged. “We have had a good run, and the last two years he has been much more consistent. You don’t have to worry about him hitting the jumps because he’s respectful of the jumps. That’s a very good trait in a horse and not something you can put there if it’s not there naturally.”

It was a great week for Ayers, who runs his EquiVentures Sport Horse Sales out of Sellersville, PA. He brought five horses to the Saratoga Classic II, including Entitled, who won the Amateur-Owner Hunter 3’3” 36 & Over championships with Sally Culhane. Winning the derby was “the cherry on top,” he said. Ayers plans to return to the Saratoga Horse Shows for both weeks in June 2025 and will serve as a judge at another Saratoga Horse Show next year.

Looking for horse show photos? Visit official photographer Jess Windhurst Photography at www.JessWindhurst.com to view all of your show proofs!

For more information on the Saratoga Horse Shows, visit www.saratogahorseshows.com.

About Saratoga Horse Shows

Now in its 26th year, Saratoga Horse Shows will offer nine USEF-rated competitions on the 2024 show calendar, along with an additional seven schooling show dates. Managed by Southbound Saratoga Management Group and held at White Hollow Farm in Stillwater, New York, Saratoga Horse Shows is situated on more than 100 acres and located eight miles from downtown Saratoga Springs. With eight large arenas featuring state-of-the-art drainage and all-weather performance footing, permanent and tented stabling, and turnout paddocks, it is the ideal place to show during the spring and summer months. Visit www.saratogahorseshows.com to learn more.