by PAUL RAYNER

A special set of twins born in the Boissevain area this past spring are doing fine and are planned to be a permanent part of the family.

On June 26, a Percheron mare at the Silver Oak Percheron Farm located just south of Boissevain and owned by Spud and Sharon Strain was the mother of a set of twin colts. Although common in other species, a pair of surviving twins is extremely rare in horses.

“It is very unusual,” Spud Strain explained, “I’m not really sure what the odds are, but they are high. It was really hard to believe at first. It is really uncommon in horses in general. I’m not sure why, I guess nature just didn’t intend for there to be two.”

He said the discovery was first made by neighbour Verna Thio, who phoned over with the news to hired man Ben Shupe. When Strain was informed, he found it difficult to believe.

“When he told me, it was sort of ‘not to argue with you but…’ you just don’t see it that often. It is hard to believe. You don’t expect something that special.”

The fillies, Strain said, were somewhat smaller than single foals, maybe 2/3 as large, or around 100-120 pounds. However, he said they did really handle them differently than other foals, just took them to their mother Lace and they moved along normally.

 “As long as they lived, they would be okay,” Strain explained. “Once they made it past the first few days it was clear sailing. They will always be somewhat smaller (than a normal Percheron), but they will be okay.”

He said they would continue to be outside, perhaps being brought in for a night now and then. The sisters have not been named as of yet, but Strain said they will likely get the kids to decide soon. Come spring, they will start breaking them to drive, along with another 20 weanlings from their generation. They have been an interesting and unusual part of life at Silver Oak Percherons.

“They’re doing fine. We’re in the process of weaning them. They have a good four months behind them and everything is looking pretty good.”