A BRIEF HISTORY
Trained by the legendary movie horse trainer, Heath Harris, Dan James is among the best and most sought after liberty and performance horse trainers worldwide. Heath has been the horse master for many feature films including The Man From Snowy River, The Young Black Stallion, and The Legend of Zorro and he personally mentored Dan to give him rare insight into what it takes to train horses that perform on time and consistently deliver reliable performances.
In 2009, Dan James partnered with Dan Steers to create Double Dan Horsemanship a company built on their passion for sharing equine education and entertainment. Since its inception Double Dan Horsemanship has grown into a global success with home bases in both Australia and the United States and having performed in nine different countries worldwide. Their focus on live equine theatrical performances has enabled Dan James and Dan Steers to perform at some of the most prestigious equine stages around the world including the Opening Ceremony at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Lexington, Kentucky. Their unique niche has also taken them beyond the arena with performances on Australia’s Got Talent, Halt and Catch Fire and as a featured trainer on NAT GEO among other TV appearances showcasing their horses. IBM also contracted them for an Outback Experience where they took their horses up in elevators to perform at a computer conference in a casino in Perth, Australia.
In 2012, Dan James brought two of his best horses (Amelia and Apollo) with him to be permanently based in the United States. He has since acquired a wide array of horses necessary to meet the demands of shows and performances across the US and Canada (Click HERE to see the entire DDH Team).
Since moving to the US Dan James has gone on to start horses for the hit TV series Heartland and to have his horses featured in the 2017 Versace Spring Campaign, the 125th Anniversary Vogue cover shoot with Jennifer Lawrence and a private shoot with Alicia Vikander. Dan and his DDH Team are in high demand across North America providing horses for various movie scenes, photoshoots including high fashion, promotional shoots, cover stories, and weddings, and even a country music video.
Dan James Awards & Appearances Click HERE
Double Dan Horsemanship
EquineTheatrical Performances
Denver National Stock Show – 2016, 2019
World Equestrian Games Exhibitor – 2010, 2018
Equitana Asia Pacific Aus – 2008, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018
Equine Affaire USA – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Mid West Horse Fair USA – 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018
Calgary Stampede – 2014
The Michigan Event Center Shows – 2017, 2018
Breyer Fest – 2016, 2017, 2018
Rolex 3DE – 2016, 2017
Double Dan Horsemanship
Movie & Photography Services Offered
Horses
Please Click HERE to see the individual horses that make up the DDH TEAM.
Training
DDH has a wide range of skilled horses available which are trained to perform numerous tricks including: REARING, LAY DOWN, SITTING, BOWING, MARK TRAINED, ATTACK / FIGHT, PICK UP & CARRY OBJECTS, LIBERTY, GENERAL RIDDING, JUMPING,ENGLISH AND WESTERN.
Horse Sizes, Colors & Weights
DDH has horses available ranging from small ponies which are 8hands tall 250 lbs to horses that are 16+ hands and 1500 lbs. The equine team includes horses of multiple colors including Black, Bay, Chestnut, White, Grey, Palomino & Dun.
Tack & Equipment
DDH can provide a wide array of tack and equipment to outfit most needs of western, English or theatrical work.
Transport
DDH can transport up to 7 horses and equipment immediately upon request.
Locations
To help find or provide locations for different shoots, DDH has a large resource of contacts and locations that can help provide the exact look desired.
Horses On-Screen
HeartLand
Heartland a poplar Canadian TV series, Dan James prepared the liberty horses that perform regularly on this series. The Horses are owned by Niki Flundra and the contractor is John Scott Movie Horses
Halt and Catch Fire
Dan James was contracted for a horse falling scene in the well-known Halt And Catch Fire series.
Marry Rivers, the owner of the horse used in this scene another well know name for movie horses
Photo Shoots
Dan James has been contracted numerous times for glamorous, high fashion, personal interest stories, and magazine spreads. His horses have been used for shoots with:
Bruce Weber
Versace
Vogue
Country Music Weekly
American Idol Star – Kristy Lee Cook
Jenna LaMasters – singer / song writer
Music Video “ Your Secrets Out “
Wedding Photos
Various Promotional Material