For U25 athlete Allison Nemeth, the 2025 U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions is the culmination of hard work and how it has paid off for her and her longtime partner, Leviathan, a 9-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she’s raised and trained herself.
Known as Levi in the barn, the gelding has been with Nemeth since he was just two years old. “We’ve grown up together,” she says. “I learned how to train young horses through him, and he’s learned all the way up to the U25 Grand Prix with me. It’s been such a fun journey.”
That foundation has fueled a standout 2025 season. Nemeth and Levi claimed key international victories on home soil in the CDIU25 Intermediate II and Grand Prix 16–25 at WEC Ocala in April, as well multiple victories at the Adequan® Global Dressage Festival (AGDF) including the CDIU25 Grand Prix Freestyle and Grand Prix 16-25 during Week 4, as well as the CDIU25 Intermediate II and Grand Prix 16–25 during Week 12.
At shows, Nemeth likes to braid and groom Levi herself, a ritual that helps calm her nerves while providing comfort and consistency for her horse. Her background grooming professionally, including time spent with U.S. Dressage Team athlete Marcus Orlob at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics and most recently at CHIO Aachen, has given her a meticulous eye for detail. “It’s made me so much more attentive with my own horses,” she says. “Being in those environments, you learn so much. Not just about grooming, but also from watching the riding and being around the top athletes.”
Levi’s name might suggest something fierce. “Leviathan” is a mythical sea monster who represents the chaos of the ocean. But what stands out most about him, to Nemeth, is his un-monstrous personality. She describes him with a smile, “He’s just goofy. The best way I can describe him is golden retriever energy. He’ll follow you around without a halter, he always wants attention, and if you’re giving someone else attention, he doesn’t like that very much.”
That playful, easygoing attitude translates into the work, too. Levi approaches each ride with enthusiasm and heart, making him the kind of horse Nemeth can count on to try his best every day. To help him prepare for big weeks like the U.S. Dressage Festival of Champions, she balances training with relaxed days. “It’s all about keeping him happy in the work,” she explains.
As for Levi’s favorite treats? Apples and carrots top the list, though he’s not known to be picky. Whether he’s grazing at home or trotting down centerline in the Grand Prix, Nemeth knows she can rely on her horse’s good-natured spirit.
“He’s just the best horse,” she says simply. “Every day he wants to do something, he wants to try, and he’s always game for whatever I ask of him.”
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