Services & Businesses
Kristen Bednarski:
I began taking riding lessons when I was 7 years old. When I was in middle school I won a Wintec saddle in a local raffle, it was necessary after that to get a horse to put under the saddle…so my parents bought me my first horse.
From that point on I took lessons every week and showed frequently in eventing. I have since had four horses and competed through Training level. I obtained my C3 rating in high school and decided I wanted to bring my horse at the time, Buzz, to college with me.
I decided to put my love of horses and writing together to pursue a degree in journalism at the University of Kentucky. I showed Buzz for two years in college before deciding it was time to sell him. As a busy college student I did not have the proper time or funds to keep caring for him like I wanted to, I continued riding but only occasionally.
During that time, I was also interning for The Blood-Horse magazine, and was learning a different side of the horse industry. I loved the fast-paced atmosphere at the magazine and enjoyed interviewing trainers, owners and breeders to discuss their horse's success on the track. It was great to still be involved with horses since I wasn't riding regularly.
I was at The Blood-Horse for three years, I worked at the Kentucky Derby each year, the Keeneland sales and more. The internship showed me that I could have an impact on the industry through writing. The Blood-Horse staff not only updates the public about racing results but focuses on investigating issues in the industry and reporting the findings. Safety of tracks, economic factors influencing racing, and trends in betting are just a few examples.
After my first year with The Blood-Horse, I knew that I wanted to be a journalist. And equine journalism was my best fit because I have a passion for the industry. Looking for more experience I applied for an internship last year at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. I began interning in the PR department at the Games in the fall of 2009.
It has been extremely busy at WEG because the Games are swiftly approaching. I have worked multiple test events, attended press conferences and written several feature stories at WEG. I have spoken with many companies coming to the Game and am responsible for choosing editorial content to write about this spring.
As graduation looms in front of me, I know that I can have an impact on the industry in my career. Whether I am reporting about race horses or the impact of the Games, my job is to be investigative and report on issues that the public will want to hear about and ask the questions that they can't.