When needed, Rich Goetz takes the volunteer post of “score running” literally. When golf cart issues prevented him driving from judges’ booths to the office with the scores earlier this year, he changed into shorts and athletic shoes and literally became a “score runner.”
He’s a fit guy and likes to stay that way, so the assignment was no problem. Having no problem with anything he’s asked is Rich’s modus operandi since he started volunteering two years ago.
He is the significant other of Laura Jaeger, a member of Galway Downs’ Volunteer Coordinator Team, which comes with insider insights on the rapid fire and changing needs that arise during a show. He’s game for just about any task and his competency and good humor epitomize the best of Galway Downs’ amazing volunteer crew.
At the US Eventing Association’s American Eventing Championships in late August, Rich logged the most hours of any of the 102 volunteers who made the epic event a huge success. His 55 hours started the Friday before the Championships began, when he and Laura hit Sams Club to stock up on volunteer snacks and supplies.
When the competition began, Rich assumed his now normal stance of being ready to do anything needed. That included getting fellow volunteers where they needed to be and delivering water and snacks.
On the AEC’s final day, he was happily posted at the out-gate for stadium show jumping, the final phase of competition. Handing out the USEA’s completion medals enabled Rich to witness moments that make eventing a unique athletic endeavor.
“For everyone there, it was a huge accomplishment – first just to qualify, and then to make it all the way through the Championships. It was great to see all the riders’ reactions.”
Rich loved the spectrum of emotions – from those who finished in the lead, to those who had several rails yet emerged with huge and well-deserved smiles and pats for their horses. “To see all the ages and the huge range of abilities was really great,” he reflects.
Handing Laura her completion medal was a special highlight. She and her homebred, Dondero, finished as Reserve Champion in the AEC’s Stater Amateur division.
Happy On The Move
Rich first volunteered in the summer of 2023. Laura was competing and serving on the Volunteer Committee. “She wanted me to see what was going on and I ended up doing the gate for stadium jumping.” Favorite posts since then include anything that keeps him on the move, and he’s still surprised how quickly the steps add up. “One time I was running dressage scores between the Sycamore and Eucalyptus rings and it wound up being 10 miles just back and forthing!”
He enjoyed a warm welcome from day-one. “Everybody is very eager to help you enjoy yourself while you’re volunteering,” he shares. “You never feel like you are working. Even if it’s hot as blazes out there, someone is bringing you drinks or ice cream and always making sure you’re appreciated as helping the show function as smoothly as possible.”
Rich is a horse guy himself, and eventers impress him. “I have a huge appreciation for the skill and bravery of the riders. They have a lot more gumption than I do, even at the Starter level.”
Growing up with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and Audie Murphy movies, Rich always dreamed of “being out there on the trail doing the cowboy thing.”
He bought his first horse 19 years ago, a Mustang from a Bureau of Land Management auction. His first Mustang didn’t grow into as big of a horse as Rich had hoped for, so he’s now joined by Scotty, a Mustang-Quarter Horse mix that is Rich’s main trail partner.
He and Laura keep their horses at the Yucca Valley Equestrian Center, near their home. Nearby Joshua Tree provides plenty of trail riding options, some of them accessible directly from the boarding facility. Their three dogs often come along – “running around chasing lizards, rabbits and who knows what.”
Marine Background
During nine years serving in the Marine Corps, Rich started his career in information technology. He went to college to prep for a high-tech career and was disappointed to “end up with the lowest tech job as a Marine – a field wireman.”
The position entailed running wire from one place to another in the field and plugging it in. That ground-level start, however, worked out for the best when he was selected for training to program phone systems. “I had a natural knack for learning things, and I picked up data networking, satellite and radio communications without being formally taught it.”
He supported satellite communications systems in armored vehicles in Iraq, Afghanistan and South Korea. Rich’s skills kept him at the forefront of communication technology advances that typically start with the military then migrate to civilian uses.
He now provides high level communications support to mostly governmental agencies around the country. Much of the work can be done over the phone, walking clients through the steps needed to operate their systems. It’s an on-call roll that fits perfectly with volunteering. Often a client’s issue can be resolved while Rich is running a score in or taking a short break from an assignment.
Needing to be on-call for work makes dressage scribing a no-go for Rich, and he’s OK with that. He enjoys watching Laura compete in dressage but doesn’t envision himself following suit. “It’s a little too fancy for me,” he says. “And I think the Marine in me could not do the white pants. I’d think, ‘Oh my god, my white trousers have a speck of dirt on them. I need to change.’”
Fortunately, there are plenty of other positions for a capable guy like Rich and Galway Downs is lucky to have him.
