Movie actress and filmmaker Daryl Hannah is used to red carpets and the glare of the spotlight. But she has no issue taking a backseat to two stars during her monthly visits to a seniors’ daycare facility in California. The two stars are Romeo and Ziggy, miniature horses that Hannah brings with her to bring joy to the seniors, many of whom are suffering from the various infirmities of aging.
According to an adorable video from NBC News, Hannah has been bringing the minis for over a year.
“It’s really moving, the first couple of times we came I was in tears because some of the people actually cried, people had their memories come back to them,” Hannah tells reporter Steve Patterson. “They talk about when they had horses in World War II or they had a mule when they were a little boy”
In the video, Ziggy and Romeo are seen snuggling up to several seniors who look blissful with happiness at the interaction.
“[They tell me] this is the highlight of everyone’s month when you come here,” Hannah says. And one senior in the video, a man named Mike, would agree, “You’re playing with the animals and your mind is going, you’re smiling and you’re having a good day.”
Hannah’s passion for horses extends beyond the minis; she has worked with various breeds including Andalusians and Friesians, including a big stallion named Jeremiah that she rescued. There are YouTube videos of the star showing off her animals and her liberty training.
But it’s clear from the NBC video that Hannah, who is married to Canadian rock legend Neil Young, that helping people heal with horses is a calling perhaps more special than any film premiere.
More News
