FAMILY SHOWCASE A Letter from
Tommy Gallagher
First let me thank Kathy Hobstetter and ShowBiz for
agreeing to publish this letter, I really appreciate it. I had no idea how to thank all the people for their mental and monetary support over the last two years so I appreciate this chance to do so. Most of you are aware that I experienced kidney failure
in December of 2008. I was sure that after one or two runs in Dialysis I would be good to go. I sure have learned a lot since then, currently going to Dialysis three days a week and will continue to do so until I receive a trans- plant sometime in the future. The good news is, besides the strange hours I keep now, I feel great.
When it became apparent that I would not, could not, return to my busy horse show schedule it
took some soul searching as to what to do next. Fortunately, the silver lining in this whole thing, is my teenage son Thomas C., and it was time to be home with him after all those years on the road. He needed a dad and as it turned out I needed to be a parent. I've now had two glorious years to help guide and encourage him with his very lofty dreams. He has been a great student and an even better athlete becoming quite a football star. At 6'5” and 320lbs and MVP at all the football camps he at- tended last year, he suddenly became a very sought after Offensive Left Tackle. Even though from a small no name town in the Northwest, colleges began finding him, and real-
ized he was big, fast and oh yeah, smart too. Thomas has landed a full scholarship to Georgetown University in Washington D.C., and will play ball in the D-1AA Patriot League for the Hoya's. I could not be any prouder, obviously, but I can't miss this opportunity to be that side line dad so I am going to. Thomas and I will take a little drive together across the country at the end of June. Oh yes, it has been a full time job arranging Dialysis in 5 different states, but looking forward to sharing the time. I have to give special thank you's to Milt and Raizy Goffman for arranging and hosting the benefit
show for me last summer. I also want to recognize the CPHA, Equestrian Aid Foundation, George Chatigny, Marnye and Larry Langer and my dear friend Robin Surfass who all made my daily survival possible. There have been so many people that were quick to help me and Thomas that I could take up the
whole page and go name by name. My fellow workers, I will never forget your kindness. It was a weird, strange place to be, not being able to find work, or even having a schedule that would allow me to work. I was blessed to have such good friends and to be in an industry that understood real hardship does exists. You are all a special group of people and I thank you, as does my son, from our hearts. I am not returning to the horse show business, it's time for me to move on and I will enjoy all of
the wonderful memories I take with me. Devon, Harrisburg, Washington, New York will all be within range and I hope to see some of you there, I'll be a real spectator then. Thank you all again, have fun with your horses, keep the business moving forward, and OK , I got to
say it...........”Happy trails to you”....... Tommy Gallagher.
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