One exhibitor at this week’s Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show doubled his chances of winning a class by showing twin filly foals.
The foals made their historic appearance the first twins to appear in the shows 134-year history in the ring on Thursday, 9 August.
The pair are out of the Irish Draught mare Kings Sister, a granddaughter of KingOf Diamonds, by the Sligo-based Thoroughbred Shaandar.
Thelma and Louise, as the fillies have been called, were shown in the class for foals out of registered Irish Draught mares but not by registered Irish Draught stallions.
Their owner, Dermot OBrien, from Crecora, Co Limerick, told H&H: Theyre good when youre leading them, but when theyre on their own theyve plenty of confidence.Normally, foals wont stray far from their mother, but these two get into all sorts of mischief.
The pair who inherited their black colour from their sire were born on 16 June. Mr OBrien did not have Kings Sister or Snowflake scanned, but her size made him suspect she was carrying twins.
She was so heavy. Ive got eight Irish Draught mares and five part-bred Irish Draught and Thoroughbred mares, and in January she was twice the size of the others due to foal in April, he said.
A spokesman from the Royal Dublin Show (RDS) said he was delighted that the twins competed at the show.
This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (9 August, 07)