Research shows that listening to music and spending time with animals both trigger the release of dopamine, the ‘happy hormone.’ But what happens when you combine these two activities? At Because We Can – Because We Care, a Moorpark nonprofit, they’ve discovered a truly heartwarming connection.
This organization rescues and rehabilitates horses, incorporating music into their care. The heartwarming part? Volunteer and musician Mikayla Khramov was simply playing her guitar at the barn when a curious colt named Yupia took an interest. “We just walked into the stall one day with a guitar, and he just went at it,” said Dave Drulias, the nonprofit’s founder. This interaction speaks volumes about the special bond between horses and humans, a bond that lies at the heart of their work.
“We rescue and rehabilitate horses. We then use those horses to work with special needs and disabled children, and we also do a lot of work with American veterans who may have PTSD or anxiety,” explained Drulias. For 15 years, they’ve been offering horse riding lessons, but they start by building horsemanship skills. “The kids bond with the horses, the adults bond with the horses. It’s very emotional,” said Paige LeBaron, a volunteer.
Every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., the nonprofit offers free lessons to children with special needs. You just need to make an appointment to ride the pony. “We do not have the paid staff. We’re here because we love being here and helping the horses and helping people,” said Drulias. Their dedication is truly inspiring, demonstrating the power of music and horses to heal and bring joy.
