Many Horse Country, Inc. tours offer an inside look at the breeding business, from prestigious stallion divisions to boutique foal nurseries, but the latest addition to the touring lineup highlights a unique aspect of the Thoroughbred industry. Double Dan Horsemanship in Midway, Kentucky showcases a world where elite equine performance and aftercare go hand in hand.Since 2008, founders Dan James and Dan Steers have captivated the performance horse world with their signature approach to Liberty horsemanship. In this discipline, horses are trained to perform intricate groundwork and crowd-pleasing tricks like bowing, rearing, and laying down on cue. Double Dan has performed over 1,000 live shows across nine countries. Their highly skilled horses have appeared on Netflix, campaigns for Versace, Vogue and US Weekly, and a range of other television shows, films and live productions.While the Double Dan roster is primarily composed of stock-type breeds, one standout performer serves as an ambassador for Thoroughbreds.General Relativity, known affectionately around the farm as “Ozzie,” is an 11-year-old dark bay son of Einstein (BRZ). Ozzie's journey to the spotlight began when his unique skillset matched the casting needs of Dan James and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth James.“We get calls for film and photography work, and early on we got a couple of calls for a black horse,” Elizabeth James explained. “That was the one horse color that Dan didn't have. We had just married so our budget to get another horse was zero. I called a bunch of friends we had in the Thoroughbred industry and it was actually Kenny McPeek who had this guy.”Though Ozzie was only two at the time, a case of roaring sidelined his racing career before it could begin. Recognizing his potential for a second career, McPeek sent the Magdalena Racing-bred to the James family.Although James was still relatively new to the intricacies of Liberty horsemanship herself, she and Ozzie embarked on the learning process together. In Liberty work, horses are trained to work 'at liberty'–completely free of ropes, reins or halters. Equine athletes learn to follow their handler's instruction using body language, voice commands and positive reinforcement.Ozzie with Dr. Elizabeth James and daughter Isabella | Sara GordonUnder Dan's expert guidance, the pair began their training and Ozzie quickly caught on to the nuances of the discipline.“Liberty really is a discipline like any other discipline where there's a starting stage,” said James. “He started on a halter and lead and then moved from there into the round pen working at liberty. Then we cut the arena in half. And so you really set him up for success. It's all about the relationship and finding what they like to do. He's got a great lay down on him. He loves to jump at liberty. He's not as big of a fan at rearing. As you work through, you can find the things that they like to do. We want them to love their job.”In Liberty work, horses are taught to reach a 'target' or 'touch point' to earn a reward. Ozzie's specialties include showcasing his Thoroughbred motor by sprinting from one side of the arena to a target at the other and navigating a series of jumps to reach his mark.A few years ago, Ozzie landed a starring role in the hit television series Heartland. In a Season 16 episode, he was cast as a horse running loose following a trailering accident and tasked with a dramatic gallop that ended directly in front of a young girl. Dan and Elizabeth's daughter Isabella served as the stunt double for the episode. (Watch the scene here).James said that Ozzie has made the perfect addition to the Double Dan roster.“I think people sometimes don't give Thoroughbreds credit for what they can handle mentally,” she noted. “They're hotter horses–they've got more personality and more energy–but to do what I've seen him do in live entertainment without any tack or equipment, that's all heart and that's all his mind. I think what I love about Liberty is you get to showcase Thoroughbreds at their very best and people get to see them in a different light. They are such a good companion animal. They're smart and they're calm under pressure with the right amount of training.”Ozzie and Isabella reenact a scene | Sara GordonJames also noted that Ozzie illustrates how thoughtful career transition can lead to extraordinary success.“In my experience, Kenny, but also other trainers that we work with are so invested in these horses going on to have a second career, whatever that looks like,” she said. “One of the things that I think Ozzie helps showcase is just how much people are invested in them going on and having a great life and finding their purpose.”At Double Dan's farm, Ozzie frequently steps into the spotlight for the farm's clinics and special events, which bring in horse enthusiasts from across the country. During Horse Country tours, he participates in live exhibitions, giving guests a firsthand look at the sophisticated training techniques required to prepare a horse for high-level performances.“I love promoting the horse industry and Horse Country does such a fantastic job of that,” James said. “I think a lot of people think Horse Country is just for tourists, but there are people here in Central Kentucky who don't necessarily have horses. The farms all have incredible stories and it's an opportunity for so many people to get to interact with horses. I love what Horse Country does and we're honored to be a part of it.”The post Film Star ‘Ozzie’ An Ambassador for Thoroughbreds appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.