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March 4, 2000
Leap Day DoubleTwin horses born on Leap DayBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer COURTLAND -- It is a pretty rare thing to have twin horses ... but to have twin horses born on Leap Day? Lynn Folsom, of rural Courtland had twin filly (girl) horses born on Feb. 29, 2000, by his 17-year old mare Sorry. "It's extremely rare," said Veterinarian Kirk Smith, who works as a vet for Nicollet--New Ulm Vet Clinic, "It's quite rare for live twins to be born. Generally most twins will spontaneously abort before they are born." When a horse has twins there is a likelihood that if the twin horses are born alive they will usually be smaller than normal foal size or they may be born prematurely, Smith said. Sorry had her twins approximately one week earlier than expected. Folsom said he knew his horse had been bred, but he was shocked to find out she was having twins. The twins were born within a half an hour of each other. "This is a fun time of the year ... foaling," Folsom said. After they were born Folsom had blood tests done to make sure their immune system was properly functioning. The tests revealed positive results in favor of the twins. "They drink milk when they are born," said Folsom, "Then in a couple of days they will probably start nibbling on hay or grain." Smith said that it is not uncommon for a pregnant mare to carry twins during a pregnancy check ultrasound on day 15 of the pregnancy. If the twins are left alone, by day 40 one or both of the babies may have spontaneously aborted. "They basically run out of space in the uterus," said Smith, "About 20 to 30 percent of all abortions in horses are due to twinning." Every year Smith sees about one to two sets of twin horses born alive, he said. This foaling season, Folsom is expecting nine new arrivals, including his Leap Day twins. Folsom bought his first horse in 1990, a year after he graduated from high school. He started out with a grey gelding and then bought a couple of mares. Later on he began breeding his horses. To date he has 15 horses of his own, including three brood mares (which are breeding horses). "I like riding when I've got the time," Folsom said, "I used to ride every weekend." Future plans for the Leap Day twins? They will probably be sold, Folsom said.
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