While twins are a common sight in the human world, the birth of twin foals in the equine world is a rare phenomenon. In fact, the occurrence of twin foals is considered extremely rare.
Compared to humans where the occurrence rate of twins is 3 in every 100 cases, the birth of twin foals is much rarer, with only about one in 10,000 cases resulting in twins.
Out of the mares that do become pregnant with twins, only approximately nine percent are able to carry both fetuses to term. Therefore, when Tiki, a 16-year-old American Paint horse, successfully delivered twin foals, the event gained nationwide attention.
Throughout her pregnancy, this affectionate older mare was diligently cared for by the Mason family who provided regular ultrasounds to monitor the health of the developing fetuses.
The charming twin foals were born in good health at the Conley and Koontz Equine Hospital located in Columbia City, Indiana, in 2011.
According to the Huntington County Tab, “The 86-pound colt was born first, at about five minutes before midnight, healthy as — well — a horse. The filly was born about 10 minutes after midnight, weighing in at 59 pounds. The filly, although she was the smaller of the two, turned out to be the stronger of the pair — she was up and walking around within 10 minutes of birth,” Laura Mason says.
Since it’s common for mares carrying twin foals to abandon one or both of their offspring, Tiki’s owners closely monitored her behavior. However, Tiki proved to be a devoted and caring mother, as she never rejected either of her newborns, Woodcock Pocket and Charming Opal.