KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Against every odd and expectation, a tiny foal named Seven has done the impossible—and his homecoming is nothing short of a miracle.
Born nearly two months early and no larger than a large dog, Seven entered the world so fragile that many doubted he would survive even a single night. His bones were still soft cartilage, his body unprepared for the outside world, and his chances of survival were heartbreakingly slim.
But thanks to a team of devoted veterinarians at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine—and a fighting spirit that refused to quit—Seven is now home, strong, thriving, and celebrated.
The foal’s name isn’t just a number; it’s part of his story. He was the seventh baby of his dam, the seventh foal of the year for his owner, equestrian influencer Katie Van Slyke—and he was conceived on May 7. The number followed him from the beginning, as if it were a quiet promise that he’d beat the odds.
For months, Van Slyke documented Seven’s grueling, round-the-clock care at UT’s Veterinary Medical Center, where he quickly became a beloved member of the team. Vets, students, and caretakers rallied around him—not just to keep him alive, but to help him thrive.
“We fell in love with his fight,” one veterinarian said. “He had every reason to give up, but he never did.”
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1018091429992316
And when it was finally time to say goodbye, the staff sent him off in style—by shaving the University of Tennessee’s iconic Power T logo into his coat as a symbol of pride, gratitude, and victory.
This week, a healthy and playful Seven returned to his pasture at Van Slyke’s farm. His return was marked by joy, tears, and a celebration that felt like something out of a movie. In a video shared to Facebook, Seven trots confidently across the grass, nuzzling his owner and basking in the love that’s surrounded him since day one.
“He’s a miracle,” Van Slyke wrote in her caption. “Seven is finally home.”
And for everyone who followed his journey—from hospital halls to social media feeds—Seven is more than a horse. He’s hope on four legs, a reminder that sometimes, the smallest fighters leave the biggest impact.