Dan James, of Double Dan Horsemanship, is one of the most internationally recognized and diversely accomplished horsemen of our time. Two-time World Champion Colt Starter, multiple-time Freestyle Reining Champion, and Mustang Makeover finalist, Dan has captivated audiences and earned titles across the globe, from Equitana in Australia to the Quarter Horse Congress to the World Equestrian Games, where he represented his home country of Australia in Reining in 2018.

Dan’s equestrian journey began on a small cattle farm in Queensland, Australia. By the time he was a teenager, his drive to understand horses was already propelling him around the world. After studying at Longreach Pastoral College, he sought out opportunities that would expand his knowledge and sharpen his skills, from starting colts in Hokkaido, Japan, to training over 300 horses a year at Washpool Lodge in Australia, to working cutting horses for trainer Punk Carter in the U.S. Dan learned liberty training from legendary movie horse trainer Heath Harris and his competitive resume spans Dressage, Jumping, Eventing, Campdrafting, Cutting, Reining, and Colt Starting.

As an entertainer, Dan’s performances are just as compelling as his competition record. His signature blend of elite showmanship and Liberty has made him a mainstay at top events across North America, including Run For a Million, The American Performance Horseman, Road to the Horse, the National Western Stock Show, the Kentucky Three-Day Event, and the Midwest Horse Fair. Wherever he goes, Dan brings a connection between horse and human that audiences can feel.

In 2024, Dan completed the Gaucho Derby, a grueling 500-kilometer endurance race through the rugged terrain of Patagonia and used footage from the experience to edit and produce the EQUUS Film & Arts Fest award-winning documentary Fast Horses Are Hard to Catch, which won Best Film in the “Adventure Documentary Over 60 Minutes” category, celebrating the raw beauty and unbelievable challenge of the Gaucho Derby.

Beyond the arena, Dan’s horses have starred in television and fashion—featured in the hit show Heartland, the Abandons, Into the Wild Frontier, the Versace Spring Campaign, Vogue’s 125th Anniversary, and Country Music Weekly. But for Dan, it always comes back to his love of God, family and the horse.

Dan James will be performing as part of the 2025 PNHS’s featured events, the $30,000 Commonwealth Classic on Friday, October 17, and the $100,000 Grand Prix de Penn National on Saturday, October 18.