Twins in the human world are common, but when it comes to twins in the horse world, it’s a rare sight.
Twin foals are an extremely rare phenomenon.
Only one in 10,000 cases are twin foals, compared to 3 in 100 for humans.
Of the mares that become pregnant with twins, only about nine percent carry to full term.
When Tiki, a 16-year-old American Paint horse, gave birth to twin foals, the offspring drew national attention.
This sweet older mare did everything right during her pregnancy. It was the Mason family who made sure she got regular ultrasounds to monitor the babies.
Her adorable foals were born healthy at the Conley and Koontz Equine Hospital in Columbia City, Indiana, USA, in 2011.
“The 40 kg foal was born first, about five minutes before midnight, healthy as a horse! The filly was born about 10 minutes after midnight, weighing 27 kg. The filly, although she was the smallest of the two, proved to be the strongest of the pair. She stood up and walked within 10 minutes of birth,” said Laura Mason. That’s according to Huntington County Tab.
Her owners kept a close eye on Tiki, as it is not uncommon for mares of twin foals to abandon one or both babies. But Tiki never rejected Woodcock Pocket and Charming Opal. She turned out to be a loving, attentive mother.
Horses are not designed to give birth to twin foals, so for Tiki to deliver healthy twin foals at the age of 16, and not reject either one, is not only beautiful but also extremely rare.
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