AssetID: 54666225
Headline: RAW VIDEO: Rescue Horse Who Wouldn’t Go Near Humans Now Plays Guitar With Her Musician Mentor
Caption: The horse was wary of people coming near him when he arrived at the rescue centre. Yupia had never been ridden and was very wary of humans. But everything changed the day Mikayla Khramov signed up for riding lessons at the centre last August. The 29-year-old musician thought she was simply reigniting a childhood passion. But what she found instead was a once-in-a-lifetime friendship with Yupia, a four-legged soulmate, and a new calling that has turned her world upside down. "It was love at first sight," says Mikayla, from Los Angeles, who had taken a four-year break from horses when she arrived at BWC2, a nonprofit rescue centre in California. Drawn to his deep soulful eyes and gentle energy, she began working with him through groundwork and horsemanship — key elements of the centre’s approach to building trust between horses and humans. But it wasn’t until she picked up her guitar during a quiet moment in the barn that something extraordinary happened. Mikayla strummed a few chords. Yupia leaned in — and began strumming the strings with his nose. "It was surreal," she says. "Like he was joining the band." Since that day, music has become their language. From delicate harp notes to thumping rock beats on her bass and drums, Yupia responds to every rhythm. He bobs his head in time, plucks guitar strings with his lips, and even pauses on cue, as if rehearsed. But this was never just a fairytale. Yupia, like many horses rescued by BWC2, came with baggage. Mikayla spent months earning his trust — teaching him basics like walking on a lead and respecting personal space. She even took a four-month sabbatical from her job, driving over 90 minutes each way just to spend time with him. Their bond has transformed them both. Yupia, once fearful, now whinnies with joy when Mikayla arrives. And for her, he’s more than a horse — he’s her best friend, her therapy, and her muse. A few lessons in, and Mikayla says she wasn’t just back in the saddle — she was all in. In just months, she became one of the charity’s most dedicated volunteers. Today, she’s sitting on the board of directors, helping steer its mission forward. BWC2 isn’t just about saving animals. The nonprofit trains rescue horses to help children with disabilities and military veterans battling PTSD and anxiety. Through founder Dave Drulias’s unique method — Trust, Confidence, Respect (TCR) — both horses and humans rediscover strength and serenity. Mikayla is now a fixture at the barn, helping with chores, trail rides, and lessons. She’s also given the non-profit’s social media a new lease on life — growing its Instagram from 300 to over 11,000 followers and turning their TikTok into a viral sensation with 15,000 fans in just months. Though her music isn’t officially part of the TCR method, it’s become a joyful twist — especially for Yupia, the rock star stallion with a taste for guitars and good vibes. And Mikayla’s dream? "To be with him forever — whether we’re touring with our instruments or just sitting in a field, soaking up the sun."
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PersonInImage: Mikayla Theone Khramov