We are accustomed to seeing twins in the human world, but in the horse world, it’s quite rare.
Twin foals are exceptionally rare, with only 1 in 10,000 cases resulting in twin foals, compared to three times in 100 pregnancies for humans.
Among mares that do conceive twins, only about nine percent successfully carry them to full term.
That’s why when a 16-year-old American Paint horse named Tiki gave birth to twin foals, it captured national attention.
This beloved older mother, under the care of the Mason family, had a smooth pregnancy with regular ultrasounds to monitor the unborn foals.
Her lovely foals were born healthy in 2011 at the Conley and Koontz Equine Hospital in Columbia City, Indiana (USA).
The local newspaper Huntington County Tab reported: “The 39-kilo colt was born first, about five minutes before midnight, healthy as – well – a horse. The 27-kilo filly was born about 10 minutes after midnight. The filly, though the smaller of the two, turned out to be the stronger of the pair: she stood within 10 minutes of birth and walked around.”
Tiki’s owners closely monitored her, as mares of twin foals often reject one or both, but Tiki proved to be a devoted and caring mother to Woodcock Pocket and Charming Opal.
Horses are not designed to give birth to twin foals. The fact that Tiki, an older mare, successfully did so without rejecting either foal is not only heartwarming but also incredibly rare.
Celebrate this remarkable family by sharing their story!
