You are competing at TSCHIO Aachen during one of the four Majors that make up the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. What does it mean to be part of an event of this scale and prestige at this stage of your career?

BS: I have had the chance to compete at the CHI Geneva in the Under-25 classes, so to now be here at TSCHIO Aachen is very special. I think experiences like this are incredibly important for a young rider.

When you have the opportunity to compete at events of this level, you begin to feel more comfortable in this environment. You are surrounded by the best riders in the world, and you start to understand what it takes to be part of the very top of the sport. I hope that in a few years, or perhaps even next year, I will be able to compete in the biggest classes here. Being at a show like this helps you feel more prepared, and that is what allows you to perform better when the opportunity comes.

You arrive at Aachen having already produced some strong results with Karma-Blue this season. How much confidence does that recent form give you coming into such an important venue?

BS: It gives me a lot of confidence. In this sport, when things are going well with one horse, it often has a positive effect on the others too. At the moment, we are in a good period, and I am trying to enjoy it. Show jumping is full of ups and downs, so when things are going well, you have to take confidence from it. It almost helps you recharge for the more difficult moments that inevitably come in the sport. That is also why I felt it was the right time to come here. If things had not been going so well, perhaps I would have chosen to do a national show instead, but I came to Aachen feeling confident.

I am not here thinking that I have to win every class. For me, it is about gaining experience in this incredible venue, enjoying the opportunity, and continuing to build according to the plan.

At this level of the sport, the partnership between horse and rider is often what makes the difference. How do you build that relationship with your horses?

BS: The relationship with the horse is the most important thing. For me, it is even more important than the technical work, the flatwork or the jumping. You have to spend time with them and really get to know them.

That is something I have really seen in good systems, including during my time with Team Fuchs. It is not only about what happens in the ring or in training, but about the time you spend with the horses every day. After the daily routine of riding, stable management and yard work, I like to take one or two horses out and simply walk with them. I could spend that time at home eating something or looking at my phone, but instead I try to be with the horses. It is about just being around them, letting them relax, and allowing them to be horses.

I also do a lot of hacking, and I think that is very important. It is interesting to see how much the horses benefit from it. When they have a good mind and they trust you, they fight with you rather than against you, and that makes a huge difference. It is not only because you are a good rider, but because you know each other so well. That relationship allows the horse to understand you in a different way.

You are still at an early stage of your senior career, but you are already gaining experience at some of the sport’s biggest venues. How do you manage the balance between ambition and patience as a young rider?

BS: I think you have to understand that everything takes time. Of course, as a rider you want to progress and you want to compete at the highest level, but you also have to be patient and make the right decisions for the horses and for your own development.

Being here is part of that process. I am ambitious, but I also know that I am still learning. I do not come to a venue like Aachen expecting everything immediately. I come here to gain experience, to understand the atmosphere, to watch the best riders, and to keep improving step by step.

Competing at Aachen is often seen as a milestone in a rider’s career. Where does this moment sit within your own journey so far?

BS: It is a very important moment for me. Aachen is one of those shows that every rider dreams about. To be here already, at this stage of my career, is something very special.

It feels a little bit like living a dream. You dream about these shows when you are younger, and then suddenly you wake up and you are here at Aachen. It is an unbelievable feeling. I know I am still at the beginning of my journey, but being able to gain this experience now is something that will help me a lot for the future.

Switzerland has an exceptional show jumping tradition, with riders such as Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs consistently performing at the very top of the sport. How inspiring is it to be part of that wider Swiss system?

BS: It is very inspiring. We have riders such as Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs, who have achieved so much at the very highest level. I have to say, I am a very big fan of Steve. Martin is also an incredible rider, but Steve lives very close to where I am from, which makes it even more special for me.

I come from the Jura, a small region in Switzerland where horses are a very important part of life. Although it is a small area, it has produced a number of very good riders, including Steve Guerdat, Alain Jufer, Anthony Bourquard and Gaëtan Joliat. Both of my parents also rode, so horses have always been part of my life.

I am very proud to represent both Switzerland and the Jura. Swiss Equestrian also does a very good job with its talent programmes, organising clinics and training sessions, and providing a lot of support. Twice a year, we also go for medical checks, physical checks and blood tests. They are always behind us and helping us, and I think that support is one of the reasons why Switzerland has had so much success.

I am not there yet, but I believe that kind of system can help riders reach the top level. I am very proud to wear the Swiss colours.

You’ve been part of the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex. How valuable has that experience been, not only in developing your riding, but in helping you understand the wider demands of the sport?

BS: It has been incredibly valuable. First of all, I am here at TSCHIO Aachen because of the Young Riders Academy supported by Rolex. They gave me the opportunity to compete here, which is already something unbelievable.

But the Academy is about much more than the chance to ride at these shows. It gives young riders the opportunity to learn from people who genuinely want the best for them. They are committed to supporting us, to opening doors, and to ensuring that we are learning from the right people. That gives you a real feeling of support, and when you know that there are people behind you, helping you and believing in you, everything feels more achievable.

The lessons and experiences have given me new perspectives on how to work with horses and how to approach the sport. There are so many people involved who are trying to help us improve and progress, and that can only be positive. I am very grateful for that.

Being here at TSCHIO Aachen gives you the opportunity to ride in the same environment as the world’s best horse and rider combinations. What can a young rider learn from being part of a show of this calibre?

BS: You can learn so much. You are riding in the same environment as the best riders in the world, and you can watch how they prepare, how they manage their horses, and how they deal with the pressure.

For a young rider, that is very important. It helps you understand the level you need to reach and the details that make the difference. It also makes you more comfortable in this kind of atmosphere. The more time you spend at shows like this, the more normal it becomes, and then you can focus on riding well and performing.

Having now experienced CHI Geneva and TSCHIO Aachen, what does the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping represent to you as a young rider?

BS: It feels very far away and very close at the same time. It is obviously a huge goal. I have always said that my dream is to leave a mark on the equestrian world. For me, one of the biggest marks you can leave is by winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, because it is so difficult and so challenging for every rider.

That is what makes it so special. When there is a live contender competing and they are close to winning another Major, everyone follows it, and everyone feels the emotion of it. That is sport. That is what the Rolex Grand Slam gives to show jumping.