Bethany Von is an aspiring classical dressage rider based in Tampa, Florida. She was born in Coral Springs, Florida, and grew up in Coconut Creek.She began riding at ten years old in the summer of 2005 at Millpond Farm, a hunter/jumper barn then owned and operated by Donna Phillips. As her riding skill advanced in her teen years, she was often given the challenge of retraining and rehabilitating ex-racehorses for the hunter ring under the guidance of both Donna Phillips and Jackie George.In 2022, Bethany contacted Sheila Steis and booked her first lesson at Selah East Stables. It was here that she discovered her passion for classical dressage and reconnected with equestrian sport. Under Sheila's guidance Bethany secured her first lease, BL Wilde Gambit, an 18 year old Arabian. They would later compete at the Sumter Equestrian Center in May of 2023 and win the champion ribbon in the Introductory Dressage Division.Now serious and intent to pursue rated shows, Bethany's 2024 goal is to compete and earn a USDF Bronze Medal with a Baroque horse as her partner under saddle. She is now giving lessons to existing riding teams in classical dressage to assist in building their equitation, softness, and balance.The unfortunate reality is that many Baroque breeds have faded from the current equestrian climate. These horses carry a legendary history that deserves to be celebrated for centuries to come. A classical revival deserves a return to the limelight. Fast-paced and modern methods of training dressage horses, such as intense rollkur, are neither beneficial nor sustainable to the long-term health of horses.