Author and philanthropist Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt is mourning the death of her horse, Cinco, who had been her loyal companion for more than two decades.
In a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, the 35-year-old daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver shared emotional photos and memories of her bond with Cinco, describing the loss as “heartbreaking.”
“My sweet Cinco! I’ve always dreaded this day coming. Saying goodbye to an animal is never easy, especially one who has been there for nearly every chapter of your life,” she wrote.
Katherine revealed she first met Cinco when she was just 11 years old, along with another horse, Brandy. From that young age, the barn became her safe haven — a place where she would do homework after school, travel for horse shows, and find peace during life’s ups and downs.
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“Cinco was there for me through everything — my awkward phase, my adolescence, my first boyfriend, and my first heartbreak,” she recalled. “He saw me grow up through high school, college, marriage, and motherhood. He even met all three of my kids.”
Katherine, who is married to actor Chris Pratt, shared that Cinco even played a small but meaningful role in their love story. On her first date with Chris, she took him to meet the horse. “I figured if Cinco got a good read, I could take him seriously,” she said. “I remember watching Cinco stick his head out and knicker while Chris and I had a picnic outside his stall.”
The mother of three — Lyla, 5, Eloise, 3, and Ford, 11 months — said that seeing her children spend time with Cinco was one of the greatest gifts of her life.
Katherine also remembered how Cinco provided comfort during tough moments, including when her family was forced to evacuate during the Palisades Fire in early 2025. “Nothing else soothed me like being near him,” she said. “I was my truest and most authentic version of myself at the barn.”
Reflecting on their lifelong partnership, she said Cinco was more than just a pet — he was a teammate and a constant source of unconditional love.
“For over 20 years, I’ve gone to Cinco in my highest highs and lowest lows. He lived a long, beautiful life, and was loved every single day of it,” she wrote. “The unconditional love of an animal, big or small, is one of the greatest gifts we are given on this earth. To be seen, accepted, and healed by them is a blessing.”
Katherine ended her tribute with a final message to her beloved horse:
“Cinco, I love you! Twenty-four years as partners. Thirty-three years of your life! You were a legend and forever will be.”
