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Twin horses born on Kenesaw farm
KENESAW, Neb. (AP)--Paul and Gerry Struss have been riding horses since they were children, and they've raised them through 63 years of marriage.
These days their sons Mike and Rick do most of the chores for them. Paul, at age 83, and Gerry, 80, are just thankful they're still living on their Diamond S Ranch east of Kenesaw, where they can keep a close eye on the mares--and, this time of year, anticipate the birth of each new foal.
That's one reason why May 1 was such a special day for them. For the first time, twin foals arrived on the Diamond S.
"I'm glad we lived long enough to see this," Gerry said.
The twins--one horse colt, one filly--were born to Tickle, a 23-year-old Quarter horse mare.
Tickle spent most of her life in California, where Paul and Gerry's son Dennis raises pack mules by breeding Quarter horses to donkeys. She was returned to the Diamond S a couple of years ago in anticipation of retirement.
The old mare wasn't ready to give up motherhood just yet, however. She foaled in 2004 and then again this year, producing the twins that, by Gerry's account, have taken the family completely by surprise.
"The thought never entered our mind," she said.
Becky Struss, Paul and Gerry's daughter, lives on the same farmstead as her parents. She said Tickle had been acting "funny" for a month, making family members wonder if she was about to give birth.
"She's been driving us crazy," Becky said.
But when the twins arrived, even Paul was taken aback.
After the births, he said, his first thought was to get into the pen and help the smaller of the tiny twins find his mother's side for some nourishment.
Little did Paul know the little fellow would be in no mood for help from a meddling human.
"He would have none of it," Paul said. "He got on his hind legs, and he nursed all on his own."
While small, both foals seem to be fully developed and have good survival instincts, Mike said.
The family is thinking of naming the horse colt Thunder and the filly colt Lightning. Mike said the naming decisions would come from the women of the family.
"Usually, Mom's got the final word on the naming," Becky said.
Meanwhile, the day the twins arrived on the Struss farm will stand out as a banner day for the family Paul and Gerry taught to love horses.
"It certainly will," Paul said.
Date: 5/25/05
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