Foal born after night of passion during NZ quake

Wellington: While his owners held on tightly during the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that shook New Zealand’s South Island in November last year, a crafty miniature stallion seized the moment to join quivering mares for an amorous encounter.

The result of that night of passion was born last week at Withaview Miniature Horse Stud near Blenheim, at the top of the country’s South Island.

“The wee cutie is the result of the November earthquake where his dad went through three fences to get in with the mares and foals,” the Vet Centre Marlborough said in a Facebook post.

Owner Angela Smith told local newspaper The Marlborough Express that the grand champion stallion, Rocket, was just making sure the mares were safe.

However, he managed to take advantage of his freedom to create

Vet Centre Marlborough

a lasting memory of the night.

Smith said she planned to keep the new addition.

“There’s something really special about him,” she added.

The quake struck on Nov 14 last year and hit close to Kaikoura where it ruptured faults, tore through the earth and raised the seabed.

Two people died as a result of the disaster, which also caused tens of millions of dollars worth of damage to buildings and roads. — dpa

His dad went through three fences to get in with the mares and foals.