Peter Pletcher and Ivory Coast (Anne Gittins Photography)
Pletcher was also in the irons for the division's reserve champion, Westbrooke, owned by Laurie Lewis. The eleven-year-old Warmblood gelding placed first and second over fences and fifth under saddle on day one, followed by fifth and fourth places over fences on day two.
"As a duo, they're night and day, but they're both very game horses. I don't ever worry about them spooking. It doesn't matter what ring, when it is, they always give it their all," Scott described of the winning pair.
Pletcher found Ivory Coast last summer for owner Bisso, who was looking for a horse to compete with in Adult Hunter divisions. The eleven-year-old Trakehner won them over with his superior quality of movement and sweet personality.
"We thought we'd buy a horse that could do bigger jumps and maybe the derbies also. So we looked around and found him. He's beautiful and a really good mover, and also super sweet," Pletcher described. "Eva has shown him a few times in lower adult classes and he's got a super brain."
Pletcher went on to describe Ivory Coast's fluid movement as the gelding's greatest strength in the ring. "He's really smooth. He has a beautiful topline, and has such a beautiful way of going that if maybe he jumps one jump a little funnier, his topline is so pretty that it makes the jump look better," Pletcher stated.
Fortunately, Pletcher didn't have to worry about any mistakes over fences during this division. Ivory Coast was undaunted by the course laid out by Philip J. Devita. "The course was really, really good. There were a lot of oxers in the class. There's a lot of different stuff that some of the other horses might have spooked or been a little funny at, but he didn't really care at all," Pletcher stated.