Seven, a foal loved by people across Tennessee and beyond, has died.
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, his owner, Katie Van Slyke, announced on TikTok that Seven had shown signs of colic over the past week. After seeing his condition worsen, she made the heartbreaking decision to put him down on Monday.
“While we knew we didn’t have years or even many months left with our sweet boy, we had hoped for more sunny days watching him graze, more mornings hearing his cheerful whinny, and more evenings giving him his favorite banana treats,” Van Slyke wrote. “We had just hoped for more.”
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Seven’s life was a miracle from the start. Born on Feb. 15, 2024, he arrived at only 286 days of gestation—well before the typical 310 days needed for foals to survive. Most horses born that early cannot live, but Van Slyke said Seven had a “vigor about him” that gave her hope.
While his knees and hocks were not fully formed, Seven had no other major health issues at birth. Determined to give him a chance, Van Slyke worked closely with veterinarians to help him grow stronger. At first, he received care at Tennessee Equine Hospital, but later moved to the University of Tennessee Center for Veterinary Medicine for more specialized treatment.
Doctors expected Seven might live only 8 to 12 weeks, but he surprised everyone by surviving far longer. His story reached thousands online, and his will to live inspired the creation of the Seven Scholarship, which will give $7,000 each to seven third-year veterinary students at the University of Tennessee.
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“We have loved Seven fiercely from the moment he was found standing and whinnying in the cold, muddy pasture he was born in,” Van Slyke wrote. “He fought for life every single day. He was a joy. Even though he couldn’t be a ‘normal horse,’ no one can say we didn’t fight for him to have that chance.”
Van Slyke added that Seven’s journey will help future veterinarians for years to come, leaving behind a legacy of courage, care, and love.
