Today we’re remembering Pluto Mio, an incredibly special partner to Australia’s Stuart Tinney for the 2014 World Championships in Caen, France as well as the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The gray Hanoverian/Thoroughbred gelding was 28 years old when he passed away, as announced by Stuart late in June.
Pluto Mio was a true journeyman of a horse, competing up to the five-star level with Aussie Katja Wiemann before moving to Stuart’s program when he was 13. He went on to earn two top-10 placings at Adelaide’s CCI5* (then a CCI4*) before heading to the world stage at Normandy and Rio. He contributed to an Australian team bronze at the Rio Olympics and finished 11th individually at WEG in Normandy.
Stuart Tinney and Pluto Mio. Photo by Jenni Autry.
“…phenomenal horse, with an outstanding gift of power, strength and love for Eventing!” Stuart posted on social media. “Stuart and ‘Pluto’s’ bond was unique, one-of-a-kind! We thank Jane, John Pittard for their trust with him, we all had an amazing journey, thank you ‘Pluto’ for bringing us together. ‘Pluto’ passed away with us in his paddock quickly without sufferance!”
Happy trails to Pluto Mio and thanks for the memories.
US Events This Weekend
Bouckaert Equestrian HT (GA): [Website] [Scoring]
Summer Coconino HT I (AZ): [Website] [Scoring]
Flora Lea HT (NJ): [Website] [Scoring]
Winona HT (OH): [Website] [Scoring]
Mile High HT (CO): [Website] [Scoring]
Caber Farm One Day Unrecognized, 7/4 (WA): [Website] [Scoring]
Caber Farm One Day Unrecognized, 7/5 (WA): [Website] [Scoring]
Other Links & Reading
- Through the Lens: 2026 USEF Eventing Young Rider National Championships & Maryland International
- Madrid to Montreal: Meet Susana Tezanos Moreno
- The AAEP Horse Lameness Scale Explained
- ‘I was very nervous – you don’t get to ride that kind of horse every day’: the day Jack Whitaker rode dressage star Jagerbomb
- Thoroughbred Logic, Presented by Kentucky Performance Products: Get a Second Opinion
Training Tip of the Day
What are some signs your horse could use some downtime during competition season? In a special call-in episode of In Stride, Sinead and Tik Maynard provide some perspective:
Go Eventing
Every event needs a “hydration technician”, am I right?
