By Laura Scaletti
Portraits by Melissa Fuller
At the 2015 FEI World Cup Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada, Charlotte Bredahl and Jan Ebeling did a Pas de Deux where they reenacted the love story between Danny and Sandy from “Grease.” In the stands, a 12-year-old Dennesy Rogers was mesmerized while watching Charlotte and her mare Chanel. Little did Dennesy know one day she’d own Chanel and train with Charlotte.
While watching the love story being portrayed in the arena, Dennesy’s own love story with Chanel began. “I was in complete and utter awe watching the whole thing. I was starstruck, fangirling and trying to video everything,” Dennesy said. “If I could go back in time and tell my younger self that the horse I was watching would be mine one day, I never would have believed it.”
Dennesy’s love affair with horses began the moment her mother introduced her to riding at age 5. With an equestrian mother who wanted to get back into the sport after Dennesy was born, Dennesy was exposed to horses at an early age. “I always had horsey toys and stuffed animals, long before I met a real-life horse,” she said.
Discovering Dressage
When Dennesy began riding, dressage was the first discipline she tried. “I fell in love with it the minute I started and never stopped. I think what’s kept my interest as I’ve gotten older is the fact that there is always something new to learn or perfect in dressage,” Dennesy said. “There is literally never a point where you stop learning.”
Dressage is a discipline that’s all about connection. It’s the connection both in and out of the saddle that has pulled at Dennesy’s heartstrings from the beginning of her equestrian journey. “The reason I have always loved riding is my love for horses and my connection with them,” she said. “I would do anything for my horses and love them more than anything. My horses stay with me their entire lives with prime care, and even if I couldn’t ride anymore, I would still care for them as much as I do now. It’s a relationship like no other.”
Regardless of the horses she’s had the privilege to ride, Dennesy has always strived to move forward in the sport. Part of that drive came from being exposed to the top of the sport from her early days of competing. “As a Junior, I saw so many professionals and successful riders at every horse show we went to. What’s really cool about this sport is that if you go to a horse show, you will probably be sharing the arena with an Olympian,” Dennesy said.
Shortly after Dennesy saw Charlotte and Chanel at the World Cup Finals, she competed at her first-ever CDI at Del Mar International. “I took my little Lusitano, Tally, and he decided to be crazy the entire test. Not only was it our first international-level show, but Robert Dover happened to be watching. Even Steffen Peters rode by me in the warm up and told me good luck,” she said. “It was such an amazing experience and funny to look back on, as I definitely had the wildest horse at the event.”
Although Tally may have had antics at his first international event and subsequent rides, he and Dennesy developed a partnership that allowed her to get invited to a clinic where Charlotte was the clinician. “Once again, Tally decided to show off more of his colorful personality. He knew I thought it was funny as a little girl, so he kept it up in later years. Charlotte recognized how calm, collected and sensitive I was with him. She appreciated that and invited me to ride two of her horses,” Dennesy said. “One of them was Leo, a big warmblood gelding, and the other was Chanel.”
Full Circle Moment
Just three years after watching the Pas de Deux in Las Vegas, Dennesy found herself sitting atop her dream horse, Chanel. “She was the fanciest, most beautiful horse I had ever sat on and I was in awe,” Dennesy said. “Granted, I was going from a 15.1-hand Iberian horse to a 17-hand warmblood, and I couldn’t even sit her trot, but Charlotte saw my potential with her.”
Chanel, while an honest mare, is very sensitive and needs a quiet and calm rider like Dennesy is naturally—and displayed during Tally’s antics. After that first ride, Dennesy went to Charlotte’s farm several times during the summer of 2018 to ride Chanel and take lessons with Charlotte.
“When I decided to sell Chanel, I thought of Dennesy, who was looking for a more suitable horse. I was only selling Chanel because of my crazy judging schedule,” Charlotte said. “There were other people interested in Chanel, but she was the most suitable, talented, tactful and patient.”
“Charlotte sold Chanel to me and my mom, and Chanel came home with us in October 2018. I was eventually able to sit her trot,” Dennesy chuckled. After learning to sit the trot, the duo quickly moved into the Junior dressage ranks. In their first year together, Chanel and Dennesy won a silver individual and bronze individual freestyle medal in the Junior division at the 2019 FEI North American Youth Dressage Championship (NAYC).
“Our partnership has flourished since Chanel and I first came together. We’ve gone from the Juniors—Third Level—to Grand Prix in the time that I’ve had her,” Dennesy said. “She completely opened up to me, showed me so much love—even though she’s a pretty professional and reserved horse—and began to trust me pretty quickly.”
After their success at the 2019 NAYC, Dennesy was invited to participate in the Emerging Athlete Program. As she moved up the ranks, Dennesy continued to work with her childhood trainer, while also taking lessons with Charlotte. When NAYC was cancelled in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dennesy and Chanel were 2020 Regional Champions in the Young Rider Division. After Dennesy started competing in Young Riders, which is comparable to the Prix St. Georges (PSG) level, she switched over to Charlotte’s training program full time.
“The experience of working with Charlotte has been life changing and I wouldn’t be the rider I am today without her,” Dennesy said. “She introduced me to Wellington and international horse shows and has shown me what’s possible for me in the dressage world. I’m very grateful every day, and I wholeheartedly believe everything happens for a reason.”
Working with someone who knows her horse as well as, if not better than, she does has proven to be instrumental in Dennesy’s success. Although Chanel had never competed at the Grand Prix level prior to Dennesy purchasing her, with Charlotte’s help they were able to reach that goal. “I had bought Chanel as a 5-year-old and trained her up to the Grand Prix level, but never showed her at that level,” Charlotte said.
“Watching Charlotte ride Chanel is still a dream today! I’m a visual learner, so it’s beneficial to both Chanel and me when Charlotte rides her. Charlotte knows Chanel’s habits and the way she reacts to things, so she can easily explain what I should do with my body and aids when Chanel reacts a certain way,” Dennesy said.
In 2023, Dennesy competed in the first U25 division ever held at NAYC. Together the duo won two silver medals, one individual and one team.
Throughout all the success Dennesy has had with Chanel, what means the most to her is the connection both she and Charlotte have with the mare. “It warms my heart that Chanel has had the same two people to love and care for her her entire life, instead of being sold multiple times. I know that she loves both me and Charlotte very much and we are 100% the right people for her,” Dennesy said.
Piaffing Professional
It was during Dennesy’s teenage years with Tally when she first started planning on becoming a professional in the sport. Although he wasn’t the easiest ride, the skills she learned from him opened the doors for her to advance in the sport. With Dennesy’s “everything happens for a reason” mindset, it was fortunate Tally displayed his antics when they took the clinic with Charlotte; if he hadn’t, Dennesy may have never been given the opportunity to sit on Chanel, which then resulted in more opportunities.
“I went on to the Emerging Athlete Program, where I met George Williams and Kristen Brett. They have guided me on the right path and helped me navigate the sport,” Dennesy said.
While she was in the right place at the right time to make the connections, it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of her mom, Dorriah Rogers. “My mom has endlessly supported me on this journey and has made me the hardworking, passionate woman I am today. I couldn’t do it without her,” Dennesy said.
Charlotte agrees Dennesy’s mom has been instrumental. “None of this would be possible without her mom’s unwavering support,” Charlotte said.
Dennesy turned pro in 2020 when she turned 18. Today she has clients in training at her business, Dennesy Dressage at Talisma Equestrian in Santa Rosa Valley, Califorania. “I live on the property, teach lessons, ride and train horses and offer extra care if needed,” she said. “I’m also a college student at Cal State Northridge University studying communications.”
Trying to juggle everything between her own riding, her business, attending school, having a social life and all her other responsibilities can at times be hectic, but Dennesy has figured out how to make it work. “I do a combination of online and in-person classes, depending on if I’m in California or Wellington. I felt this was the only way I could give my full attention, dedication and time to riding and my horses while also getting a degree, which is extremely important to me,” she said. “I’ve had people tell me I may regret sacrificing the ‘real’ college experience, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t need anything else other than my horses!”
As Dennesy has made the transition from dressage student to trainer, she’s been able to see how rewarding it is to help riders and horses grow in the sport. “I really enjoy watching my clients, both human and horse, start to advance and learn. I think I’m good at putting physical feelings into words, so it makes me happy to connect with my clients in that way and help them progress,” Dennesy said. “Even while teaching and training, I’m always learning more about dressage.”
In addition to helping her clients achieve their dreams, Dennesy is competing in the U25 division with Chanel and bringing along two youngsters: Kiki, a 9-year-old mare; and Vivid Dream, Chanel’s 3-year-old baby. Recently, Dennesy and Kiki made their 
debut in the Prix St. Georges level and won their first time out. “I’ve only had her for about a year, but I’ve been watching her grow up into such a lovely horse who tries her hardest every day. I’m very honored to be the person to take her to this higher level and watch her succeed,” Dennesy said.
“Even though you can never predict what’s going to happen with horses, having two up-and-coming horses, I feel very confident about my future in the sport,” she said. “It would be my absolute dream to follow in Charlotte’s footsteps and compete at the Olympics.”
Follow Dennesy on Instagram @dennesydressage
Photos by Melissa Fuller, melissafullerphotography33.mypixieset.com
