In a fascinating blend of music and animal companionship, a California singer-songwriter is working on a groundbreaking album alongside her rescue horse, Yupia. Using his nose and teeth, Yupia has mastered playing the guitar and harp, creating a partnership that has captivated millions online. The album promises a heartwarming fusion of Yupia’s unique sounds and Khramov’s vocal artistry, showcasing the profound trust and bond formed between humans and animals.
What began as a quiet bonding exercise between a California singer-songwriter and a rescued horse has evolved into one of the internet’s most unusual musical collaborations. Los Angeles-based musician Mikayla Khramov says her rescue horse, Yupia, developed a fascination with musical instruments while she volunteered at a horse rescue in California. Instead of discouraging the curiosity, she nurtured it, eventually teaching Yupia to strum a guitar and pluck a harp using his nose and teeth. After years of viral videos attracting millions of views online, Khramov is now incorporating the horse’s unique sounds into an upcoming album, turning an unlikely friendship into a creative musical project.
How Mikayla Khramov taught her rescue horse to play the guitar and harp
Khramov first met Yupia while volunteering at a horse rescue in California. She noticed that the horse was unusually drawn to music and would often approach her whenever she played an instrument.Rather than using treats or force to encourage the behaviour, she allowed Yupia to explore the instruments at his own pace. Over time, he learned to gently strum guitar strings and pluck the strings of a harp with his nose, lips and teeth. Khramov has described the sessions as a way of building trust and strengthening their bond rather than training the horse to perform. Yupia does not play the guitar or harp in the same way a human musician would. Instead, he produces sounds by naturally interacting with the strings, creating notes and rhythms that are recorded during their sessions.Videos shared by Khramov show the horse independently approaching instruments and making sounds without prompting. These recordings are then combined with professional music production to create finished tracks.
What will the album include?
The upcoming album will blend Yupia’s instrument sounds with Khramov’s vocals and songwriting.According to Khramov, the recordings will include guitar and harp sounds created by the horse, along with natural audio such as his whinnies, breathing and hoofbeats. She is also collaborating with musicians from Portugal to produce the final compositions. An EP is expected to follow the album.
Why the project is about more than music
Khramov says the musical sessions became an important part of Yupia’s rehabilitation after his rescue. Instead of relying on conventional training methods, she used music as a calming activity that encouraged curiosity and confidence.She believes the experience demonstrates how patience, trust and positive interaction can help strengthen relationships between humans and animals.
Millions have watched Yupia’s musical performances
Clips of Yupia strumming guitars and playing harps have been circulating on social media for several years, attracting millions of views across platforms.The videos have generated widespread curiosity, with many viewers amazed by the horse’s apparent enthusiasm for music. While some initially assumed the clips were staged, Khramov has consistently explained that Yupia’s interactions with the instruments developed naturally over time.
Who is Mikayla Khramov?
Mikayla Khramov is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, filmmaker and animal advocate. Alongside her music career, she has spent years working with rescued animals and frequently shares stories about the bond between humans and horses.Her collaboration with Yupia has become one of her best-known projects, combining music, storytelling and animal welfare in a way that has resonated with audiences around the world.
A unique partnership built on trust
The album is not intended to present Yupia as a professional musician but as a creative partner whose natural curiosity inspired an entirely new artistic direction. By combining the horse’s authentic sounds with original songs, Khramov hopes to celebrate the bond they have built since meeting at a California rescue. The project serves as a reminder that meaningful connections can emerge in unexpected ways, even between a singer and a horse that simply loved the sound of music. Go to Source
