The Shetland Donkey
A SHETLAND Pony has stunned vets – after gaving birth to a donkey almost the same size as she is.
Owner Lauren Mosgrove, 24, had put her 11-year-old pony Peaches in a field with a donkey for a short time but vets had assured her it was impossible for the pair to breed because of their size difference.
However, she was amazed when Peaches gave birth on Tuesday night to a donkey-horse cross already two-thirds of the size of its mother.
Mum Peaches is just 30in tall, while the newborn hinny – a rare cross between a donkey and a horse – who the family have named Katie, is just 10in behind at 20 inches tall with plenty of time to grow.
Her owners knew Peaches was expecting but thought the father was another Shetland pony who had broken through a fence one night.
Lauren, from Jedburgh, in the Roxburghshire, said: “We were told it would be safe to keep the donkey with Peaches as it was impossible for the pair to mate. I ventured down to the stable to check on her as I knew the foal would arrive any day and she had started to sweat up.
“I ran to grab my coat and when I came back the head had appeared. “We still can’t believe it.” Vet Iain Laghangie, from Galedin Veterinary practice, said: “I have been a vet for 22 years and have never seen anything like this before.
“It’s not uncommon for two species to mate unless they’re gelded. Maybe it was thought it wouldn’t happen because mum would be too small.”