Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue to Honor Ian Holback at Gala
Dutchess County resident Ian Holback knows a lot about construction. As the president of Harlem Valley Sand and Gravel in Wassaic, he runs a mining operation that services five counties providing these areas with sand and stone materials for commercial and residential needs. Holback, however, is not an equestrian. In fact, he states he has “very little interest in horses.” That has not stopped the father of teenage twins from advocating for the local non-profit Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue in Dover Plains, New York. After many years of hands on advocacy and commitment, Holback is being honored at a 10 Year Anniversary Gala that is being thrown by founder and director of LOHR Deanna Mancuso. Mancuso states that Holback, “Is the backbone of everything that Lucky Orphans has accomplished. We simply would not exist if it were not for Ian.”
For his part, the Hudson Valley native (he met his wife Kim at the school bus stop in Carmel while attending Kindergarten), says he is a “softie when it comes to anything to do with helping children in need”. It was Holback who scoured the Dutchess County countryside looking for the perfect spot for Mancuso to make a permanent sanctuary for her herd of 51 rescued horses. That land was 42 acres in the Town of Dover on Route 22. Holback has been instrumental in donating building materials, machinery, manpower, and guidance to Mancuso and her mission of “People Helping Horses Heal People”. Lucky Orphans provides accredited equine-assisted psychotherapy to children and adults dealing with the trauma of domestic violence, veterans suffering from PTSD, abused foster children, and individuals dealing with severe mental health issues including substance abuse.
Right now Holback has three large pieces of construction equipment on the Lucky Orphans property getting the driveways and roads ready for the big event on June 2nd inside the new indoor riding ring that he helped construct. “Ponies and Pearls” begins at 6:00 pm and includes a farm to table menu and live music. The cost is $150.00 per person and can be bought online at https://www.brownpapertickets.
If you cannot make it to the fundraiser, there is an After Party at 9:30 pm. Nashville recording artist Jay Taylor will fly in to provide guests with a real barn raising good time. Locals may know Taylor from his four-year stint playing at the Dutchess County Fair or for his 2012 appearance on hit television show The Voice. Taylor will debut a new song he wrote especially for Mancuso in honor of the work she does for the community entitled “Not Just About Horses”. The cost for the After Party is $50.00 and can be purchased at the same website as the Gala tickets. Lucky Orphans Horse Rescue is located at 2699 Route 22 in Dover Plains.
