Horse owner gets a shock as twin foals arrive

Jun 26 2009 by Edwin Lawrence

TWIN foals defied odds of 10,000 to one by being born unassisted.

And horse breeder Drew McClelland got the surprise of his life when he saw them.

Drew couldn’t believe his eyes when he checked on his chestnut mare Miss Paton.

And what makes her twins even more amazing is that one is piebald (white with black coloured patches) and the other is skewbald (white with brown coloured patches).

Stallion Aragon S, who fathered the foals – both fillies – is himself skewbald.

So the piebald colouring in the second foal was a further surprise for the delighted owner.

Drew, of Drumbuie, Kirkmichael, farms sheep and has been home-breeding mares for over 30 years.

But the birth of the twin foals is a first for him.

“We had no idea that twins were on the way,” he admitted.

“I checked on the mare at 5am, and couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw two foals.

“I contacted my vet, Carlos Gayubas, who checked them over. He said they were slightly smaller than usual but otherwise fine.”

“I’m absolutely delighted,” added Drew.

“They’re so beautiful and we’re so lucky that they have both survived.

“The stallion was imported from Germany two years ago and is a Bay Tobiano.

“Tobiano is the name given to markings caused by a dominant gene and Aragon S is a Bay Tobiano because Bay is his base colour.

“He’s a stunning horse and this is his first season in use for covering.”

Healthy twins are seldom born in horses as the mare’s uterus generally cannot support two foals and, if they are conceived, either one embryo is usually absorbed back into the uterus or aborted during pregnancy.

Vet Carlos of Carrick Veterinary Centre in Maybole confirmed: “In the equine world, seeing healthy twin foals is a rare event, so we feel very privileged.

“Usually when foals are conceived, they end up vying for space in the mare’s womb. One wins out and the other is lost. Fortunately in this case, the mare managed to keep both alive.

“They are receiving supplemental feeding, as is their mother, but they’re otherwise in great shape.”