Animal lovers across the country are mourning the loss of Seven, the miracle foal who captured thousands of hearts with his courageous fight for life. Born seven weeks early in February 2024, Seven was the seventh foal of his mother and owner, Katie Van Slyke. Against all odds, he survived more than a year—far longer than anyone expected.
Katie shared her deep sorrow, saying they hoped for many more days of watching Seven graze, hearing his cheerful whinny, and enjoying evenings feeding him his favorite banana treats. But last week’s intense heat became too much for little Seven, whose health had been fragile from the start.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Katie Van Slyke-Mabry (@katievanslyke)
When he began showing colic symptoms, Katie and the veterinary team at the University of Tennessee Center for Veterinary Medicine (UTCVM) made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize him humanely. The veterinarians had helped Seven thrive despite slim odds, even marking him with a big “Power T” before saying farewell.