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Yes, a horse can have twins. It is rare, and dangerous for both the mare and the foals. A mare pregnant with twins will usually abort both fetuses at about five to eight months. very rarely but if it does happen 1 of the foals most likely will die also there is only a one in 10000 chance that there will be twins :-))
Added: in most cases a vet will recommend to abort one of the twins to save the life of the other. Occasionally equine twins are born without issues, but it is very rare. Both foals can be healthy at birth, and that's common when a mare has twins.
If a mare is fed too much while in foal with twins the foals will grow too big and she will lose them and/or die Also if both are born healthy one will have to be bottle fed as the mare doesn't have enough milk for both.
It can also occur mare has triples, but it happened only few times (no more then 5) in the world. None of them ended good. ^^
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∙ 14y ago
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∙ 12y agoSince the gestation period for horses is approximately 11 months, and mares usually come into heat within a week of foaling, it is possible for a mare to have 2 foals in separate pregnancies in 12 months. It is rare for a mare to carry twins full term, and even if she does, the foals are usually stunted in size and rarely thrive. Thoroughbreds consider a horse's birthday to be January 1st in the northern hemisphere, so even if a mare had 2 normal foals in separate pregnancies in a calendar year, one would be at a very distinct disadvantage since he'd be a yearling withing a week or two of his birth.
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∙ 12y agoYes, twin foals occur. But it is rare for two foals to reach full term, the estimate being about 1 for every 10,000 births.
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∙ 15y agoA foal is a baby horse and a filly is a female foal under the age of 4. And it is a surprise it could be a colt ( male foal under age of 4) or it could be a filly.
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∙ 13y agoYes there can be more than one horse born at a time but it is most likely that one or both of them will not survive birth.
For more information, see Related Questions, below.
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∙ 8y agoPonies can give birth to more than one foal, but the chance that both embryos will survive and be birthed successfully is very low. It does happen occasionally.
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Is the gestation period the same for colts and fillies?
It is. How long a mare carries a foal has more to do with her that the sex of the foal.
What does a mares do right before the birth of a foal?
Mares will tend to get antsy right before foaling (ie: a few days before) and they will drip milk from their udders. I've written an article about our mares during foaling @ http://www.ehow.com/how_4526561_prepare-mare-foaling.html
Can a 20 year old mare be bred to foal or is that to old?
That depend on the mare.... if she has had a foal before and is having regular cycles it might be OK. If she has never had a foal before its not a good idea. The mares uterus looses its elasticity when they get older. I know of lots of older mares that have had beautiful healthy foals..... but I know of even more old mares that will no longer get in foal. Its really up to your mare and your vet. Good Luck!
At what time of the year do most horses foal?
On average, starting at the time the water bag is first visible to when the foal is lying on the ground, it should take around 30-45 minutes. Horses deliver fast, and when they don't is when there is a problem.
How soon to breed a mare after she delivers?
Technically, a mare can be bred again on her "foal heat". Her first "heat" cycle usually a few weeks after giving birth. For big breeding farms they do rebreed the mare at this time. For most backyard horse people this time comes and goes without notice. They are too busy playing with their new foal and its nice for the mare to recover from birthing. There is usually plenty of time to decide if you want to breed your mare again.
What bedding should not be used for a pregnant mare?
I pulled this from the website in the related links: "Mares should foal on straw rather than bedding shavings. This is because the shavings can stick to the mare's vulva, and can be drawn in as the mare struggles to push the foal out. They can also adhere to the wet newborn foal and permit bacteria to enter the umbilicus more easily. Dry, clean straw is preferred, and the mare and foal can be switched to shavings a few days after birth."
Is the gestation period the same for colts and fillies?
It is. How long a mare carries a foal has more to do with her that the sex of the foal.
Should a mare have milk when her foal is due in a month?
She should have udder growth but there are waxy substances keeping the milk from being leaked out. Some mares get more milk sooner, some later. Some right before they give birth.
What does a mares do right before the birth of a foal?
Mares will tend to get antsy right before foaling (ie: a few days before) and they will drip milk from their udders. I've written an article about our mares during foaling @ http://www.ehow.com/how_4526561_prepare-mare-foaling.html
How long does it take a mare to give birth?
9 or 10 months or 346 days or more
Can a 20 year old mare be bred to foal or is that to old?
That depend on the mare.... if she has had a foal before and is having regular cycles it might be OK. If she has never had a foal before its not a good idea. The mares uterus looses its elasticity when they get older. I know of lots of older mares that have had beautiful healthy foals..... but I know of even more old mares that will no longer get in foal. Its really up to your mare and your vet. Good Luck!
What will happen if your pregnant mare on howrse is in a equestrian centre without a vet?
You will pay more to call the vet from out of town, but your mare will still give birth just fine.
What is it called when colostrum leaks onto the nipples of the mare?
This is typically a sign that the mare will foal very soon. There is no real term for the leaking, but if enough of it leaks out the foal might not get enough and need a colostrum supplement. A mare will 'bag up' (her udders become full) about a day or possibly more before foaling also.
Why can't horses have more than one baby?
Horses can more than one foal at a time, however a single foal is a serious drain on the mare's body and they can generally only produce sufficient milk to provide adequate nutrition for one foal.
What should you feed an under weight mare with a foal?
An underweight mare with a foal at her side will need lots of hay, get he best grass hay you can afford. Grass hay is the bulk of a horses diet and keeps the gut healthy. Next you can add alfalfa hay, in the form of bales, cubes, or pellets. Alfalfa will add more protein to the diet and more calcium which helps with milk production. It will also help put weight on the mare. If the mare is very thin or just a hard keeper you can add a weight builder and / or a hard feed designed for mares and foals. If the mare is not producing enough milk for her foal you may need to supplement the foal with milk replacer.
After giving birth when does a mare's milk drop?
Some mares are already in milk before the foal is born. It is generally only maiden mares or early foaling mares that take more time for their milk to come in.
If you breed a mustang stallion and a paint mare what breed will the foal be?
It would simply be a paint/ mustang cross. There's no special name for it that I know of. Well I am answering this about howrse.com the answer depends on the genetics of your mare. If you mare is 50 percent paint and 50 percent mustang or something else, who knows what the foal could be. If your mare is more something else or has an amount of mustang in her, the chances are you will get a mustang.
