Tania Mackee couldn’t believe her luck when her horse gave birth to beautiful identical twins.
And 18 months later, she was left stunned after the same mother horse, named Destiny, gave birth to another set of twins, defying odds of one million to one!
The latest foals are also ‘healthy, strong and very feisty.’ Unlike the first set of twins, the new ones are not identical but still beautiful and incredibly rare!
“It’s amazing. I’ve been breeding for years and years and I’ve never heard of something like this before. It was surreal,” said Mrs. Mackee, who runs Gassons Farm Stud. “I can’t believe they were healthy. They are healthy, strong foals. They’re very feisty.”
It is very rare for horses to give birth to twins but Destiny successfully gave birth to two sets only 18 months apart!
It was in June 2018 when the 19-year-old mare Liosin Lux gave birth to healthy identical twins, colts GFS (Gassons Stud Farm) Masta Blasta and GFS Shockwave.
One of the horses prepares to go into events while the other one is already at a professional show-jumping home.
After a year of foaling the owner decided to breed the mare one last time this year. But when she was scanned by a vet, only one foal was detected. Mrs. Mackee was totally surprised when Destiny gave birth to two beautiful horses.
“Twins are rare and they’re rare for a reason. The horse is anatomically designed to be able to carry one foetus and then, after birth, to support one foal with milk and nutrition,” said Dr. Charles Cooke, a veterinary surgeon and director at Equine Reproductive Services.
“Twin pregnancies can be dangerous to the mare and the majority end in pregnancy loss in late pregnancy. That is why this case is so rare and interesting.”
Mrs. Mackee said she will not breed Destiny again. The latest twins are ‘very athletic and move nicely.’
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