When Tania Mackee’s horse gave birth to healthy identical twins she could not believe her luck.
But now, just 18 months on, the breeder has been left astounded after the same mare defied odds of around 1million to one to deliver a second set of twins.
Born almost a fortnight ago at a British stables, the latest arrivals – yet to be named – are ‘healthy, strong and very feisty’.
Unlike their predecessors, the new twins – a filly and a colt – are not identical but they are still incredibly rare.
Mother horse, known as Destiny, gave birth to twin foals (pictured) in a 1million-to-one chance birth 18 months after she gave birth to identical twins. They live on a farm near Exeter
Destiny’s identical twins colts GFS Shockwave and GFS Masta Black pictured in June 2018
Horses rarely give birth to twins as the two embryos are usually aborted within six weeks of pregnancy. Destiny is pictured above with her second twins
Owner and horse breeder Tania MacKee said she could not believe her luck
Mrs Mackee, who runs Gassons Farm Stud near Exeter, where the horses were born, said: ‘It’s amazing. I’ve been breeding for years and years and I’ve never heard of something like this before. It was surreal.
‘I can’t believe they were healthy. They are healthy, strong foals. They’re very feisty.’
It is very unusual for horses to give birth to twins, with most twin embryos spontaneously aborting within the first six weeks of pregnancy.
Of those that do survive the first six weeks, around 80 per cent will subsequently abort.
But 19-year-old mare Liosin Lux, known as Destiny, gave birth to healthy identical twins, colts GFS Shockwave and GFS Masta Blasta (GFS standing for Gassons Stud Farm), in June 2018, defying odds of 10,000-1.
One of the foals is now at a professional show-jumping home and the other is preparing to go into eventing.
The two new foals photographed together at Gassons Farm Stud near Essex
Pictured above is their father, Lord of the Dance, walking through a field on the farm
Mother Destiny with her first set of twins, left, and second set of twins, right
One of the new twins pictured falling on the floor as the other stands near its mothers leg
Owner MacKee was stunned at the birth and said she had never heard of this happening before
After being given a year off foaling, Mrs Mackee decided to breed the Irish Sport Horse – whose grandfather competed in the Sydney 2000 Olympics – one last time this year.
The mare was scanned by a vet to ensure she was not carrying twins and only a single foal was detected. Mrs Mackee said it was a ‘mystery’ as to why the second foal was missed, as also happened last time.
Mrs Mackee said she will not breed the mare again as the risk would be too high.
Dr Charles Cooke, veterinary surgeon and director at Equine Reproductive Services, said: ‘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.
The two young foals are pictured cantering behind their mother in a field on the Exeter farm
The two foals are pictured above galloping through a field on the farm
It is rare for horses to have twins as the embryos are usually aborted after six weeks pregnancy
‘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 was careful not to use the stallion she used previously as she was ‘didn’t want lightning to strike twice’.
The latest twins, which Mrs Mackee said are ‘very athletic and move nicely’, were sired by GFS Lord of the Dance, or Django, a stallion from Estonia.