The horse that gave birth to the identical twins defies a one million to one probability
Tania Mackee was overjoyed when her horse gave birth to identical twins that were in wonderful condition.
However, the breeder is still in disbelief that the same mare defied odds of over a million to one to give birth to a second set of twins only eighteen months later.
The newest recruits, who have not yet been given names, arrived from a British stable more than two weeks ago and are described as “healthy, strong, and very feisty.”
The new twins are a colt and a filly, and although they are not exactly alike like their ancestors, they are nonetheless quite uncommon.
A mother horse called Destiny gave birth to identical twins eighteen months before, and then she gave birth to the twin foals (pictured) in a one in a million chance delivery. On a farm near Exeter, they live.
Horses seldom give birth to twins because the two embryos usually die six weeks after the mare becomes pregnant. Destiny is seen above with her second pair of twins.
Tania MacKee, an owner and horse breeder, expressed surprise at her fortunate fortune.
The proprietor of Gassons Farm Stud, close to Exeter, where the horses were born, Mrs. Mackee, said, “It’s incredible.” I have bred a lot, but I have never heard of anything like this before. It didn’t seem genuine.
It’s amazing that they were in good health. They are robust and vigorous foals. They really are naive.
In horses, it is very uncommon to give birth to twins; most twin embryos spontaneously terminate during the first six weeks of pregnancy.
After surviving the first six weeks, almost 80% of survivors will get pregnant.
However, 19-year-old mare Liosin Lux, also called Destiny, gave birth to healthy identical twins, colts GFS Shockwave and GFS Masta Blasta (GFS standing for Gassons Stud Farm), in June 2018 against 10,000-1 odds.
One foal now lives in a show-jumping professional home, while the other is about to begin eventing.
Owner MacKee was shocked by the delivery, saying she had never heard of anything like that happening before.
Mrs. Mackee decided to breed the Irish Sport Horse one more time this year, after a year-long gap from foaling. Her grandfather competed in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Following a veterinary inspection, the mare’s pregnancy status was verified as one foal, not twins. Mrs. Mackee said the reason the second foal was ignored, as it had been the prior time, a “mystery.”
Mrs. Mackee said there will be no further breeding of the mare because the risk is too high.
Director of Equine Reproductive Services and veterinary surgeon Dr. Charles Cooke said, “Twins are rare and they’re rare for a reason.” The horse’s anatomy is designed to allow it to bear a single pregnancy and then nurture and feed that one foal when it is born.
Due to the fact that most embryos are destroyed after six weeks of pregnancy, horses seldom give birth to twins.
Most twin pregnancies end in late-stage pregnancy loss, and they may pose health risks to the mother. This is what makes this case so special and intriguing.
Reluctant to risk a repeat of the lightning hit, Mrs. Mackee was careful not to utilize the horse she had previously used.
The most recent twins, who Mrs. Mackee said as “very athletic and move nicely,” are by the Estonian stallion known as GFS Lord of the Dance, or Django.
