Pasan Nanayakkara
The birth of twins is a remarkable occurrence in any species, and it’s even more unusual in horses. While 3 out of every 100 people are considered twin babies, only 1 in 10,000 horses is a set of twins. Therefore, the birth of twin foals to a 16-year-old American Paint horse named Tiki was a rare and remarkable event.
Tiki’s owners, the Mason family, took excellent care of her during her pregnancy, ensuring that she received frequent ultrasound scans to monitor her and her unborn foals’ progress. When the time came for Tiki to give birth, they took her to Conley and Koontz Equine Hospital in Columbia City, Indiana, where she gave birth to two healthy foals.
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The first foal to be delivered was a colt, weighing 86 pounds, and the second was a filly, weighing 59 pounds. Despite being the smaller of the two, the filly proved to be the stronger of the two and was up and walking within ten minutes of delivery.
The low live birth rate (9%) for twin pregnancies in horses means that it’s challenging for both foals to survive, and it’s rare for mares to accept both of their babies. However, Tiki proved to be a caring and loving mother, accepting both of her foals without any issues.
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Tiki’s ability to give birth to healthy twin foals at the age of 16 and accept both of them is stunning and very unusual. Her story has captured the attention of horse enthusiasts worldwide and serves as a reminder of the beauty and wonder of the equine world.
In conclusion, the birth of twin foals from an older pregnant mare is an extremely rare occurrence in the equine world. Tiki, the 16-year-old American Paint horse, defied the odds and gave birth to two healthy foals who made full recoveries. Her story is a testament to the resilience of horses and the love and care that owners give to their animals.
H/T: nature-creatures.com
