MERIMBA & PELEAR
Merimba, a flea bitten grey 19 year old Arabian mare, came into the Carolina Equine Rescue & Assistance program in July
2008. She was a surrender through Animal Control. The owners named her Merimba, Spanish for Xylophone, her ribs
showing reminded them of a Xylophone. As I was walking her off the trailer, my gut told me she was pregnant. I asked my
vet to palpate her and sure enough, she was 5 months pregnant and very emaciated.
On March 19, 2009, Merimba went into labor. She had a very hard delivery, was thrashing about, and in a lot of pain. The
vet was called and had to help Merimba with the delivery. A very large colt was delivered. The colt would not stand on
his own. We also tried to get him to nurse, he would not suck. The vet told us he had “Dummy Foal Syndrome”. He was
trying to stand but kept banging into the wall and falling down; he was walking sideways with his tongue hanging out. We
did manage to milk Merimba and tube fed the colt her colostrum. It was horrible, we never heard of “Dummy Foal
Syndrome”. My husband, John, stayed with the colt and I immediately went to the Internet to find out everything I
could about the condition. Two of the major symptoms were difficulty breathing and convulsions, which he did not have,
everything else pointed toward his condition. A few hours past, we called the vet again to come and tube him for a
feeding. We had to make a decision to either euthanize him or take the baby & Merimba to NC State Veterinary Hospital
in Raleigh, NC.
Raleigh was 3 hours away and we were not sure he would survive the trip. He did not have the two major symptoms of the
condition; we had to give this little guy a chance to live.
Our friend Donnie offered to trailer us to Raleigh. We had to move quickly for fear of dehydration with both Merimba
and baby. The vet called the hospital and informed them that we were on our way and filled them in with both of their
conditions. I wanted to name him before we arrived at the hospital. Merimba is Spanish so I thought it would be
appropriate for her son to have a Spanish name also. A friend gave us the name “Pelear” which means “ A Fighter” in
Spanish.
We pulled into the parking lot of the hospital; Donnie and I were amazed vet’s, tech’s and students moved quickly to the
trailer. I walked Merimba off the trailer, Donnie tried to walk Pelear off, but he collapsed. Donnie picked him up and
carried him into the hospital. There was a staff of 13 working on them. The hospital staff was so organized, professional
and caring. Donnie & I were able to be right there with both of them. Merimba was placed in a shoot right in front of
Pelear, she could see him at all times. IV’s were hooked up, vitals were taken, blood was drawn, a permanent feeding tube
was inserted into Pelear. They were then taken to their stalls which were separate but Merimba was able to see her
baby. The staff at the hospital took every precaution to prevent the baby from getting hurt again in the stall; they
padded the walls and actually had a helmet for Pelear if needed. Merimba was not doing well, she would not take her eyes
off him. She was starting to stress slightly, they gave her some banamine and I was able to brush her. We were still not
out of the woods. Merimba was severely bruised internally and had not expelled the placenta, Pelear needed to start
sucking and drinking on his own.
It was feeding time. Merimba was milked. Pelear was given a mixture of mom’s milk, foal-lac and goat’s milk. The tech’s
kept a small amount of milk in a pan and the remainder went into the feeding tube. Pelear had to learn how to suck the
milk, with a little work he started slurping the milk from the pan. It was tiring for him but he did it; his first step
toward recovery. Merimba was really stressing now and not drinking water. She was given IV fluids.
They were both in the hospital for 5 days. The bill was over $3,000.00. Friends were called, email's were sent
everywhere from New York to Florida. Donations started coming into the hospital. In less than 3 days over $3,000.00
was donated toward the care of Merimba & Pelear. It was amazing I just couldn't believe it. There were so many folks
that wanted to help by donating and praying. John and I are so blessed by what the horse community has done for CERA.
Without their donations, support and prayers we just could not have done it on our own.
It was time for Merimba & Pelear to come home. Again, Donnie offered to drive to Raleigh and bring them home. Pelear
still would have a long recovery ahead of him. Merimba was still not drinking. I know this mare and she needed to come
home to start her recovery.
We made the trip home safely, Merimba & Pelear were stalled together and she was starting to relax more, but still not
drinking. I gave her a mash of grain and I continued to milk her for Pelear, giving him mom’s milk through his feeding tube
with foal-lac and goat’s milk. Pelear was doing much better not banging into the walls.
The next morning we were able to turn them both out for a short time. Merimba was so happy, started running and
flagging her tail. Pelear was also taking little runs. Merimba went to the water troft and drank herself full. She was
home, feeling better and recovering nicely.
Everyday Pelear makes progress, drinking more and more on this own, walking straighter and not banging the walls. The
feeding tube was removed; he hated it hanging out of his nose. He started munching on hay and we started him on pelleted
foal-lac.
Today he walks on a lead rope, loves going outdoors everyday, on junior grain, picks his feet up for the farrier etc. He is
your typical little colt, so loving and beautiful. I questioned myself for a long time whether we made the right decision to
give him a chance at life, I no longer think that way, we made the right
decision.
Pelear is nearly 5 months old. Saturday, August 8, 2009 we were bringing horses in after night turnout. All the horses in
her pasture were not at the gate, this was not normal. All the mares and Pelear surrounded Merimba underneath a tree.
Merimba had deep cuts on both hind legs and was toe touching her left. She would not walk. We did manage to get her in
the wash bay, cold hosed her and called the vet. At first we thought she was attacked by a predator, she was kicked by
another mare. This herd gets along very well together. It was dark and apparently one was spooked, kicked out and
Merimba was in the way. Merimba had a fractured splint bone with deep laceration’s. Merimba was bandaged, given
penicillin, bute, ulcer guard are gentimyicin.
The following Monday I placed calls to find out the cost of surgery for her. Her splint bone has shattered at the top. I
had to consider her age, quality of life, her son and the cost of surgery.
Monday evening I gave Merimba her penicillin injection. Almost immediately she started having a seizure. She was
thrashing in her stall, we did manage to get Pelear out safely. When Merimba did calm down her leg was hanging, bloody
and very painful. She had an open compound fracture. We had no choice but to put our precious Mom, Merimba to sleep.
She was so special to John and I. Our hearts are breaking and the tears are pouring. She will always have a special place
in our hearts and she will be so missed. She has crossed the rainbow bridge but has given John and I a part of herself to
raise and love, a beautiful healthy baby colt, Pelear. It has been nearly 2 months since we lost Merimba, Mama.
Approximately 3 weeks after Pelear lost his Mom, I noticed that he was acting different in the pasture. He was not
playing, running, he was just standing and eating all day like the other horses. We have mostly aged or blind horses that
have no interest in playing with a young colt. One option I had was to place Pelear with one of the mini's they are 5 & 10
years old. But that meant I was taking them away from Bonnie who is totally blind. They are Bonnie's eyes and help her to
find the water, shade or the gate. The older mares would make sure he was safe but that was all they would do for him. I
contacted my vet and talked to other veteran horse people. Pelear was depressed and they agreed with my thought. OK,
what are we going to do.
I contacted Teri Stemper of Dream Equine Therapy Center. Her organization helps PMU & Nurse Mare Foals. I
explained our situation with Pelear, sent several email's back and forth, educated ourselves on Nurse Mare Foals and
decided to try and adopt one of the babies. Teri did have a little filly that needed a home. She did have a laceration
above her eye that have to be stitched twice due to her rubbing it open, and was sedated twice. This little filly was very
scared and cautious of people. She would barely let us touch her. She was so scared and did not trust people at all. We
brought the filly to the farm, turned Pelear and her out in the pasture together. They immediately started running,
playing and whinnying for each other. Pelear was so happy.
John has named her Farrah. Her color looks very much like Pelear and she was born 3 days before Pelear. She now lets us
groom her, leads very nicely, and wants attention. She has helped Pelear tremendously and Pelear has helped her. They
are best buddies now. We take walks with them, watch them play in the pasture together and we let them know that they
are both loved. I truly believe that God had a plan for John & I, and this plan has fallen into place. I thank God everyday
for allowing me to have the ability to help the neglected, abused & unwanted horses.
Merimba, a flea bitten grey 19 year old Arabian mare, came into the Carolina Equine Rescue & Assistance program in July
2008. She was a surrender through Animal Control. The owners named her Merimba, Spanish for Xylophone, her ribs
showing reminded them of a Xylophone. As I was walking her off the trailer, my gut told me she was pregnant. I asked my
vet to palpate her and sure enough, she was 5 months pregnant and very emaciated.
On March 19, 2009, Merimba went into labor. She had a very hard delivery, was thrashing about, and in a lot of pain. The
vet was called and had to help Merimba with the delivery. A very large colt was delivered. The colt would not stand on
his own. We also tried to get him to nurse, he would not suck. The vet told us he had “Dummy Foal Syndrome”. He was
trying to stand but kept banging into the wall and falling down; he was walking sideways with his tongue hanging out. We
did manage to milk Merimba and tube fed the colt her colostrum. It was horrible, we never heard of “Dummy Foal
Syndrome”. My husband, John, stayed with the colt and I immediately went to the Internet to find out everything I
could about the condition. Two of the major symptoms were difficulty breathing and convulsions, which he did not have,
everything else pointed toward his condition. A few hours past, we called the vet again to come and tube him for a
feeding. We had to make a decision to either euthanize him or take the baby & Merimba to NC State Veterinary Hospital
in Raleigh, NC.
Raleigh was 3 hours away and we were not sure he would survive the trip. He did not have the two major symptoms of the
condition; we had to give this little guy a chance to live.
Our friend Donnie offered to trailer us to Raleigh. We had to move quickly for fear of dehydration with both Merimba
and baby. The vet called the hospital and informed them that we were on our way and filled them in with both of their
conditions. I wanted to name him before we arrived at the hospital. Merimba is Spanish so I thought it would be
appropriate for her son to have a Spanish name also. A friend gave us the name “Pelear” which means “ A Fighter” in
Spanish.
We pulled into the parking lot of the hospital; Donnie and I were amazed vet’s, tech’s and students moved quickly to the
trailer. I walked Merimba off the trailer, Donnie tried to walk Pelear off, but he collapsed. Donnie picked him up and
carried him into the hospital. There was a staff of 13 working on them. The hospital staff was so organized, professional
and caring. Donnie & I were able to be right there with both of them. Merimba was placed in a shoot right in front of
Pelear, she could see him at all times. IV’s were hooked up, vitals were taken, blood was drawn, a permanent feeding tube
was inserted into Pelear. They were then taken to their stalls which were separate but Merimba was able to see her
baby. The staff at the hospital took every precaution to prevent the baby from getting hurt again in the stall; they
padded the walls and actually had a helmet for Pelear if needed. Merimba was not doing well, she would not take her eyes
off him. She was starting to stress slightly, they gave her some banamine and I was able to brush her. We were still not
out of the woods. Merimba was severely bruised internally and had not expelled the placenta, Pelear needed to start
sucking and drinking on his own.
It was feeding time. Merimba was milked. Pelear was given a mixture of mom’s milk, foal-lac and goat’s milk. The tech’s
kept a small amount of milk in a pan and the remainder went into the feeding tube. Pelear had to learn how to suck the
milk, with a little work he started slurping the milk from the pan. It was tiring for him but he did it; his first step
toward recovery. Merimba was really stressing now and not drinking water. She was given IV fluids.
They were both in the hospital for 5 days. The bill was over $3,000.00. Friends were called, email's were sent
everywhere from New York to Florida. Donations started coming into the hospital. In less than 3 days over $3,000.00
was donated toward the care of Merimba & Pelear. It was amazing I just couldn't believe it. There were so many folks
that wanted to help by donating and praying. John and I are so blessed by what the horse community has done for CERA.
Without their donations, support and prayers we just could not have done it on our own.
It was time for Merimba & Pelear to come home. Again, Donnie offered to drive to Raleigh and bring them home. Pelear
still would have a long recovery ahead of him. Merimba was still not drinking. I know this mare and she needed to come
home to start her recovery.
We made the trip home safely, Merimba & Pelear were stalled together and she was starting to relax more, but still not
drinking. I gave her a mash of grain and I continued to milk her for Pelear, giving him mom’s milk through his feeding tube
with foal-lac and goat’s milk. Pelear was doing much better not banging into the walls.
The next morning we were able to turn them both out for a short time. Merimba was so happy, started running and
flagging her tail. Pelear was also taking little runs. Merimba went to the water troft and drank herself full. She was
home, feeling better and recovering nicely.
Everyday Pelear makes progress, drinking more and more on this own, walking straighter and not banging the walls. The
feeding tube was removed; he hated it hanging out of his nose. He started munching on hay and we started him on pelleted
foal-lac.
Today he walks on a lead rope, loves going outdoors everyday, on junior grain, picks his feet up for the farrier etc. He is
your typical little colt, so loving and beautiful. I questioned myself for a long time whether we made the right decision to
give him a chance at life, I no longer think that way, we made the right
decision.
Pelear is nearly 5 months old. Saturday, August 8, 2009 we were bringing horses in after night turnout. All the horses in
her pasture were not at the gate, this was not normal. All the mares and Pelear surrounded Merimba underneath a tree.
Merimba had deep cuts on both hind legs and was toe touching her left. She would not walk. We did manage to get her in
the wash bay, cold hosed her and called the vet. At first we thought she was attacked by a predator, she was kicked by
another mare. This herd gets along very well together. It was dark and apparently one was spooked, kicked out and
Merimba was in the way. Merimba had a fractured splint bone with deep laceration’s. Merimba was bandaged, given
penicillin, bute, ulcer guard are gentimyicin.
The following Monday I placed calls to find out the cost of surgery for her. Her splint bone has shattered at the top. I
had to consider her age, quality of life, her son and the cost of surgery.
Monday evening I gave Merimba her penicillin injection. Almost immediately she started having a seizure. She was
thrashing in her stall, we did manage to get Pelear out safely. When Merimba did calm down her leg was hanging, bloody
and very painful. She had an open compound fracture. We had no choice but to put our precious Mom, Merimba to sleep.
She was so special to John and I. Our hearts are breaking and the tears are pouring. She will always have a special place
in our hearts and she will be so missed. She has crossed the rainbow bridge but has given John and I a part of herself to
raise and love, a beautiful healthy baby colt, Pelear. It has been nearly 2 months since we lost Merimba, Mama.
Approximately 3 weeks after Pelear lost his Mom, I noticed that he was acting different in the pasture. He was not
playing, running, he was just standing and eating all day like the other horses. We have mostly aged or blind horses that
have no interest in playing with a young colt. One option I had was to place Pelear with one of the mini's they are 5 & 10
years old. But that meant I was taking them away from Bonnie who is totally blind. They are Bonnie's eyes and help her to
find the water, shade or the gate. The older mares would make sure he was safe but that was all they would do for him. I
contacted my vet and talked to other veteran horse people. Pelear was depressed and they agreed with my thought. OK,
what are we going to do.
I contacted Teri Stemper of Dream Equine Therapy Center. Her organization helps PMU & Nurse Mare Foals. I
explained our situation with Pelear, sent several email's back and forth, educated ourselves on Nurse Mare Foals and
decided to try and adopt one of the babies. Teri did have a little filly that needed a home. She did have a laceration
above her eye that have to be stitched twice due to her rubbing it open, and was sedated twice. This little filly was very
scared and cautious of people. She would barely let us touch her. She was so scared and did not trust people at all. We
brought the filly to the farm, turned Pelear and her out in the pasture together. They immediately started running,
playing and whinnying for each other. Pelear was so happy.
John has named her Farrah. Her color looks very much like Pelear and she was born 3 days before Pelear. She now lets us
groom her, leads very nicely, and wants attention. She has helped Pelear tremendously and Pelear has helped her. They
are best buddies now. We take walks with them, watch them play in the pasture together and we let them know that they
are both loved. I truly believe that God had a plan for John & I, and this plan has fallen into place. I thank God everyday
for allowing me to have the ability to help the neglected, abused & unwanted horses.
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Merimba & Peeler's Story
Pelear and Farrah ~June 2010~
Pelear ~ June 2010~
