Meaningful Connections: Hearts and Horses and The Carousel of Happiness

Some announcements carry more weight than others, and this one comes straight from the heart. Peace Love Moto is now officially sponsoring two remarkable Northern Colorado nonprofits that embody the spirit of joy, healing, and community connection.

The Carousel of Happiness in Nederland stands as a testament to resilience and wonder. My friend Scott Harrison, a Vietnam veteran who found solace in a tiny music box during combat, dedicated 26 years to hand-carving 56 magnificent animals. These creatures now bring joy to visitors from around the world as they ride the restored 1910 carousel to the melodies of a century-old Wurlitzer band organ. It's a place where joy isn't just an emotion – it's a tangible presence, carefully crafted and freely shared.

Just minutes from my home, Hearts and Horses offers another kind of healing magic. This therapeutic riding center serves children with disabilities, veterans battling PTSD, and individuals with dementia through equine-assisted therapy. With approximately 30 horses and a dedicated team of professionals and volunteers, they create safe spaces where physical and emotional healing blossoms through the unique bond between humans and horses.

These initiatives have awakened something profound in me – a calling to create more meaningful connections with you, my listeners. While I may record this podcast from my son's former bedroom in Loveland, the feedback I receive suggests many of you crave authentic experiences: riding Colorado's back roads, witnessing nature's magnificence, and meeting extraordinary people making a difference in our world. I'm actively exploring ways we might connect beyond these audio episodes – perhaps through shared motorcycle journeys where together we can seek that elusive peace of mind we all desire. The path forward isn't entirely clear yet, but the destination feels right – finding joy, purpose, and connection in an increasingly disconnected world. Stay tuned as this vision takes shape.

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Episode Transcript

Ron (00:07):
Today's episode is a bit unique.
It's a bit short, but I thinkit's quite a bit important.
It's important to me and I hopeit will be to you too, after
you hear what I have to say.
You too, after you hear what Ihave to say.

(00:27):
As of this week, I'm excited toannounce that this podcast,
peace, love Moto, is a proudsponsor of two amazing
nonprofits here in NorthernColorado.
One is the Carousel ofHappiness in Nederland and the
other is Hearts and Horses righthere in Loveland, where I live.
The Carousel of Happiness issometimes described as a

(00:51):
whimsical menagerie.
I like those terms.
It has 56 hand-carved animalson a restored 1910 carousel
frame 1910 carousel frame.
I've been visiting and ridingthe carousel with my family and

(01:11):
friends for I don't know howlong well, over 10 years, maybe
closer to 15 when it startedVeteran Scott Harrison, a
Vietnam veteran who I'm so proudto call my friend.
He spent 26 years carving theunique animals, one at a time,
animals all of which are largeenough to ride on and all of

(01:33):
whom were inspired by a musicbox that brought Scott comfort
during the Vietnam War, out onthe battlefield.
During the Vietnam War, out onthe battlefield, visitors from
all over the country and evenall over the world, listen to
the 1913 Wurlitzer band organ asthey ride the carousel.

(01:55):
This is one place where joy iscreated and joy is shared.

(02:21):
I also want to tell you aboutthe other.
I also want to tell you aboutthe other place that my wife and
I, through this podcast, areproud to support as of this week
.
It's called Hearts and Horses.
It's very near my home here inLoveland, Colorado.
In fact, just this afternoon Iwent by for a visit and spoke

(02:46):
with them, like Scott Harrison,who built the carousel, these
are good people.
These are very, very goodpeople, people who express love
for total strangers just becausetheir hearts lead them to do
that.
Hearts and Horses is atherapeutic riding center with

(03:06):
about 30 horses, I believe theytold me, and it's dedicated to
helping people with disabilities.
It serves children withphysical and mental disabilities
, veterans suffering from PTSD,even those with dementia,
providing each of those folksthese horses and the services

(03:29):
that go right, along with thoseprofessionals who are here and
volunteer their time to promotephysical and emotional healing.
It's beautiful.
It's a safe and supportiveenvironment where individuals in
need can experience the uniquebenefits of connecting with

(03:49):
horses and connecting with thosewho support the horses and
support them and love them, lovethem both.
What's not to love about horses, right?
What's not to love about horses, right?
And what's not to love abouthumans who just need a little
help?
The staff here at Peace LoveMoto, the staff that's my wife

(04:16):
and I.
We are the staff.
Yeah, we're a small littleoperation.
I record the podcast on my AppleMacBook in the studio which was
previously known as my son'sroom, here in our home in
Loveland, colorado.
Yes, we're a small operation,but there's something I feel

(04:41):
like I need to tell you,something that's been in my head
and it's in my heart.
Being inspired by such peopleas Scott Harrison and Allie

(05:10):
Wagner at the Carousel ofHappiness and Catherine Yuma,
who I met just today, and theother team at Hearts and Horses,
I hear a calling.
I do, a calling to do somethingpositive, to do something real.
A calling to do somethingpositive, to do something real,
something tangible for mycommunity and for you, my

(05:32):
friends, who listen to thispodcast.
I don't know what that real andtangible thing is exactly, but
feedback that I get fromlisteners tells me that there
are motorcycle riders out therewho need an experience, who need
a real experience, not justhappiness, but joy.

(05:58):
It's a whole other thing, right?
Some tell me that they needtime on a motorcycle riding the
back roads of Colorado, justlike I describe.
All the time.
They tell me that they need anexperience with Mother Nature

(06:23):
and the Rocky and they want tosee amazing things happen in
places like hearts and horsesthat do so many wonderful things
for people who just need somehelp.
Listeners tell me that theyneed an experience.
They tell me they need peace ofmind, don't we all?

(06:57):
So, my friends, I'm working onthat.
I hear a calling.
I'm trying to figure out whatthat is.
I'm getting advice from goodfriends and people I confide in
and trust, but I'm working onsome way for you and I to
connect, if you want to do that,to connect on motorcycles here

(07:22):
in Colorado to see amazingsights together.
To see amazing sights together,to commune with Mother Nature,
to be quiet, hear what she hasto say.
And other options are just outthere visiting coffee shops,
little cafes and just stoppingin the middle of a road that's

(07:46):
completely empty and lookingaround and just saying wow,
isn't this wonderful?
In the middle of a road that'scompletely empty and looking
around and just saying wow,isn't this wonderful.
But also, I think it'simportant for us together to go
meet wonderful people, wonderfullocal people here in northern
Colorado, all the while seekingpeace of mind together.
And who knows, we just mightfind it as always.

(08:13):
Thank you so much for listening.
I wish you peace and I wish youlove.
Thank you.