04/24/2026
It’s twins😱 now what?
Unlike some species, horses are not designed to carry twins. The uterus typically can’t support two fetuses to term.
Common outcomes without treatment:
* Early embryonic loss (both lost)
* Abortion in mid-to-late gestation
* Premature, weak foals
* Serious risk to the mare (dystocia, retained placenta, illness)
How twins happen
Most twin pregnancies come from double ovulation, where a mare releases two eggs during one cycle. This is more common in:
* Older mares
* Certain breeds (like Thoroughbreds)
Detection
Early diagnosis is critical and usually done by ultrasound:
* Day 14–16 post-ovulation is ideal
* At this stage, the embryos are still mobile and easier to manage
Treatment (Twin Reduction)
The goal is to reduce to a single viable pregnancy.
Most common method:
* Manual crushing (“pinching”) of one embryo via re**al palpation
* Done early (before fixation ~day 16–17)
* High success rate when performed by an experienced veterinarian
If the twins are touching like these, it’s a little more complicated. A luteolytic dose of prostaglandins can be given to reduce both twins and rebreed the mare. You could attempt to reduce one manually but this could result in damage to the second pregnancy.
What if twins aren’t reduced?
Even if both embryos survive early on, one may naturally be lost—but this is unpredictable and risky. Late-term twin pregnancies almost always end poorly.
Management tips
* Always ultrasound mares early after breeding
* Recheck at ~25–30 days to confirm a single heartbeat
* Monitor high-risk mares (older, history of twins) more closely
