Dan James

Born in Queensland Australia on a small cattle farm, James’ lifelong passion for horses began when he was just six weeks old. From the family milking goat to his first pony to the first colt he started in his early teens, Dan’s hunger to learn about training and understand horse’s thinking patterns has only increased. After studying at Longreach Pastoral College, Dan began traveling the world to gain a better understanding of horses. From starting colts in Hokkaido, Japan to starting over 300 horses a year at Washpool Lodge, Australia to working cutting horses for trainer, Punk Carter, to learning Liberty training from world renowned Heath Harris to managing horses on a cattle station in Western Australia, Dan has studied with and learned from the best of the best. Dan has successfully competed in Dressage, Show Jumping, Eventing, Camp Drafting, Cutting, Reining and Colt Starting. Along the way James met his Quarter Horse stallion, Ari, Australian Stock Horse mare, Amelia, and Quarter Horse, Apollo, who were his first performance horses and remain part of the DDH Team today.

James is a two time international World Champion Colt Starter, a multiple time Freestyle Reining Champion, a muli-discipline Crowd Favorite several times over and a Mustang Makeover finalist. From winning the “Way of the Horse” at Equitana Asia Pacific in 2008 to winning the coveted Road to the Horse International Cost Starting World Championship in 2012 to winning the 2014 Quarter Horse Congress Freestyle Reining Championship to representing Australia in the 2018 World Equestrian Games James continues to wow judges, fans, and audiences alike with his incredible training techniques, elite showmanship, and unique understanding of how horses learn.

Achievements

Australia Reining Team Member World Equestrian Games

World Equestrian Games Selected Performer & Presenter

Jack Brainard Horsemanship Award Winner

Road to the Horse Competitor

KRHA Reining Open Champion

2017 – NRHA Reserve Champion Freestyle Reining

2017 – QH Congress Reserve Champion Freestyle Reining

2017 – Open Champion, Buckeye Limited Reining

2017 – Presenter & Performer at Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event

2017 – Freestyle Judge RRP Thoroughbred Makeover

2016 – Ram Invitational Freestyle Reining Champion

2016 – Ram Invitational Freestyle People’s Choice Winner

2015 – Kentucky Gold Cup Reining Reserve Champion

2015 – Kentucky Gold Cup Reining People’s Choice Winner

2014 – Kentucky Gold Cup Reining Champion

2014 – QH Congress Freestyle Reining Champion

2013 – Mustang Millionaire Finalist, Top 5

2013 – Mustang Millionaire Crowd Favorite

2013 – Featured on TV series “Mustang Millionaire”

2012 – Kentucky USA – Dan begins the North American branch of Double Dan Horsemanship by setting up operations at Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, KY

2012 – Dan won the “2012 Road To The Horse” as a member of Team Australia

2010 – Kentucky USA – World Equestrian Games – Dan Roman rode 2 Friesian horses in the opening ceremony before a worldwide crowd. Double Dan Horsemanship were also clinicians throughout the games.

2009 – Dan & Dan relocated their training business to North Arm Cove, NSW

2008 – Dan won the “Way of the Horse” at Equitana Asia Pacific where his horse breaking skills were recognized as world class.