VIDEO: North Okanagan woman’s horse loves the piano

VERNON – Why did Vernon resident Shanda Hill start playing the piano for her horse? It’s a funny story.

In the winter, Hill throws her piano in the back of a pickup truck and goes Christmas carolling with friends and family. When she brought the piano back, it didn’t make it into her house right away and instead sat on the deck.

“The next day I played it and my horse came by and just stood there so I kept playing,” Hill says. “Now I go out in the evenings and play it for her.”

Hill has posted a few videos showing her serenading 11-year-old Alegria.

The horse is such a good concertgoer that she’s even allowed in the house.

One of the latest videos shows a calm Alegria enjoying a rendition of Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You in the living room.

And the music isn’t just for the horses. This week, Hill and her son were walking their goats — who were acting a bit jumpy — and she decided to play them a song.

“It worked,” Hill says. “I kept playing for a while and they sat there almost a half hour. It was amazing.”

Hill is an ultra-runner who competes in extreme races around the world.

She loves horses and rides Alegria any chance she gets. She doesn’t use a saddle or bridle, and instead hops on bareback saying, “it’s more comfortable."

To contact a reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston or call 250-309-5230 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.