Werth Makes it a Back-to-Back Win in Basel at 2026 World Cup Qualifier

-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Martin Dokoupil / Stefan Lafrentz

Isabell Werth made it a back-to-back win in Basel as she claimed victory in this Swiss World Cup qualifier for the second year in a row. In 2025 she won with Quantaz, who last competed nine months ago at the World Cup Finals at the same venue. This year she claimed valuable World Cup points with her Olympic ride Wendy.

Werth  claimed her first World Cup™ qualifier victory of the season, by posting 86.155% in the Basel freestyle. While not a personal best, it was more than enough for a clear win.

Home athlete Charlotta Rogerson (SUI) caused a real sensation with Bonheur de La Vie, producing two personal bests and finishing second on 81.290%. Raphael Netz (GER) and Dieudonne completed the podium in third, further strengthening their lead in the FEI Dressage World Cup™ standings.

Dressage in Switzerland

With Dressage firmly established on the programme in Basel in recent years, the impressive and towering St. Jakobshalle continues to attract ever-growing crowds. With three Swiss athletes competing, the stands were frequently filled with waving red-and-white flags and an enthusiastic home audience.
Strong performances before the break

Before the interval, Delia Eggenberger (SUI) produced a solid Freestyle with  Isabelle Ros' 16-year old Westfalian Fairtrade (by Fiderstep x Santino), marred only by a small mistake after the final extended canter on her joker line. The gelding showed clear expression in piaffe and passage, though there is still room for more sit. Their performance earned a score of 73.185% and eighth place, bringing them back for the prize-giving.

Just ahead of them, Morgan Barbancon (FRA) and 20-year old Oldenburg stallion Sir Donnerhall II OLD (by Sandro Hit x Donnerhall) had already won the crowd’s applause. Riding to a Freestyle with a French theme, Barbancon’s stallion proved he is still very much on form. With no major errors and many demanding sequences, though at times with a slightly unstable contact, the combination finished seventh on 74.930%.

Before the break, Dominique Filion (NED) impressed with Bas Reesink's 14-year old Rhinelander The Boss (by Boston x Louis Le Bon). Only recently stepping onto the World Cup circuit, the Dutch athlete followed up a very strong fifth place in the Grand Prix by climbing one position higher after a very polished Freestyle. Their score of 76.785% marked a new personal best and secured fourth place.

Just behind Filion, Svenja Kämper-Meyer (GER) finished fifth with her home-bred 13-year old mare Amanyara M (by Ampere x Davignon). The light-footed mare responded to the smallest of aids, and the harmonious picture was underlined on the final centre line, which Kämper-Meyer rode entirely one-handed. Their Freestyle was rewarded with 76.420%.

After a very strong fifth place in the Grand Prix, Bettina Kendlbacher (AUT) drew the final starting position in the Freestyle with 13-year old Austrian bred Broadmoars Don Alfredo AWÖ (by Destano x His Highness). The always happy chestnut continues to gain strength in piaffe and passage, but a few small hiccups in the canter tour slightly affected the technical score. The pair finished sixth on 74.995%.

Homeside Hero Rogerson thrills Swiss Crowd

Perhaps the loudest applause of the day was reserved for the runner-up: Charlotta Rogerson (SUI) and the 1'4year old KWPN bred Bonheur de La Vie (by Bordeaux x Zack). Competing in front of a home crowd, the pair achieved personal bests in both the Grand Prix and the Freestyle, with their 81.290% marking the highest Swiss Freestyle score in many years. Finishing second on both days, the 28-year-old athlete could hardly believe what had unfolded over the weekend.

“It’s incredible. I still don’t really realise what’s going on," said Kiki Rogerson. "Bonheur is an amazing horse and we are starting to understand each other better and better in the arena. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity, grateful for this horse… this is a dream coming true. I still need to pinch myself.”

Werth back on top with Wendy

Shortly after Rogerson, it was time for world number three Isabell Werth (GER) and Bolette Wandt and Madeleine Winter-Schulze's 12-year old Danish mare Queenparks Wendy (by Sezuan x Soprano). For Werth, Basel marked her first World Cup appearance of the season and only her second competition after a longer break with the mare.

“Wendy was really on fire yesterday. I’m happy that today she was so much more focused. We only started a little bit tense in the canter. I think we need a few more competitions in a row to get where we want to be. The piaffe, passage and canter pirouettes were fantastic today. Her little sneeze in the one-tempis caused a mistake, but today I got my two-tempis right,” Werth smiled, referring to the error in the Grand Prix.

Werth will ride Quantaz at the qualifier in Amsterdam (NED), before taking him to the qualifier in Wellington (USA) in February. If everything falls into place, her plan is to target the Final in Texas (USA) with Quantaz.

Netz Strengthens World Cup Lead

Third place also went to Germany. Current FEI Dressage World Cup™ standings leader Raphael Netz (GER) presented an impressive Freestyle with Sonja Krall's 13-year old DSP registered Dieudonne (by Dante Weltino x Sir Donnerhall), with the piaffe and passage showing clear improvement. The extended gaits of the 13-year-old gelding were a clear highlight. 

“We really enjoyed our freestyle," said Netz. "Today Dieudonne was focused, which isn’t always the case. This is only his second World Cup competition and he still needs to get used to arenas like this and such big crowds. I enjoy riding this amazing horse every single day.”

With his third place in Basel, Netz now sits on 59 points in the World Cup standings, further consolidating his lead. Austria’s Bettina Kendlbacher moves up to fourth place overall.

The next FEI Dressage World Cup™ qualifier will take place in Amsterdam on 23 and 24 January, so don’t miss a hoofbeat.

Related Links
Scores: 2026 CDI-W Basel
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025-2026 World Cup show circuit