A Dream Realised in Basel
More than a month after the FEI Dressage World Cup™ in Basel, the memories of that special weekend still resonated for Swiss rider Charlotta Chiara Rogerson. Riding her relatively new Grand Prix partner Bonheur de la Vie, she secured an outstanding second place in front of an enthusiastic home crowd a result that marked a defining moment in her senior career.
Charlotta Chiara Rogerson reflects on her breakthrough at the World Cup in Basel
Looking back, Rogerson admitted that such a result had not been something she expected at the beginning of the week.
“Not at all. I knew Bonheur de la Vie has everything it takes to achieve these high marks and to shine next to all these other amazing and very talented horses. But you never know if you can show all this potential in the test on that particular day.”
The partnership was still young. Rogerson had only welcomed the horse into her stable the previous May, yet their development had been rapid and consistent.
“We’ve been getting to know each other better and better from show to show. Creating this bond and trusting each other more and more gives me a very special feeling and a lot of confidence. The top marks are just the icing on the cake.”
Bonheur de la Vie came with an exceptional education, having been produced over ten years by German rider Sandra Nuxoll, who had purchased him as a young horse.
“She did a fantastic job. When I first sat on him, it was a click. I saw him in the stable and already thought, ‘I love this character.’ When I rode him, everything worked, and I just knew — this is my heart horse.”
Although the connection felt immediate, acquiring him had taken patience. After more than two years of trying, Rogerson finally secured the partnership. Remarkably, they competed in their first show together just ten days after his arrival.
From that point onward, each competition strengthened their understanding. One milestone before Basel stood out in particular.
“At the last show in Stuttgart we became German Masters Indoor Champions. That was something I never dared to dream of.”
Basel, however, carried a different emotional weight. Competing at a World Cup event on home soil, in front of Swiss spectators, elevated the experience even further.
The year before, Rogerson had ridden in Basel with Famora, her long-time partner of eight years, with whom she had progressed from junior and young rider ranks up to senior Grand Prix level. The contrast between the two chapters of her career made the 2025 edition even more meaningful.
“Now having Bonheur de la Vie, who is just on a different level, and riding next to Isabell Werth was very, very special. That’s a dream you always have as a little girl, and to experience it in front of your home crowd still felt a bit unreal.”
Despite the harmony on display, the journey had not been entirely without challenges. In the early competitions, the one-time flying changes had occasionally caused costly mistakes.
“That was the only real difficulty in the beginning. Especially the one-time changes. I had some mistakes at the first few shows. But in Basel they were actually our highlights — and that was incredibly satisfying.”
As she reflected on her goals beyond Basel, Rogerson remained grounded in her priorities.
“The first priority is always a happy and healthy horse. If you have a horse like this, it allows you to dream big. Every rider dreams of participating in the Olympics — that’s definitely a long-term dream.”
More than a month later, the Basel World Cup result remained a powerful confirmation of what careful training, patience, and belief can achieve. For Charlotta Chiara Rogerson and Bonheur de la Vie, it was not just about second place it was about the feeling that something truly special had begun.
Ph CHI Basel Classics
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