Tales from Tokyo: ‘I used to be a wedding planner – but I don’t like weddings’

Pippa Roome's avatar
By
Published In Features
Francesco Zaza and Wispering Romance at the Tokyo Olympics
Francesco Zaza and Wispering Romance at the Tokyo Olympics.
(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Italy’s Francesco Zaza, who made his Olympic debut today in the grand prix at Tokyo, spent two years working as a wedding planner before he opened his dressage stable.

The 37-year-old started out in equestrianism as an event rider. He contested three young rider Europeans – winning a team bronze in 2003 – and the 2007 senior Europeans in Pratoni, riding Joli Roger III.

Pippa Roome
Pippa Roome
Magazine editor and eventing editor

Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.