A Miracle Begins
On February 15, 2024, in Tennessee, a tiny foal named Baby Seven was born – far too early, after just 286 days of gestation. Normally, foals aren’t considered viable until around 310 days. But Seven fought his way into life, defying all odds.
The diagnosis was harsh: his joints – especially fetlocks and knees – were not fully developed. But his owner, Katie Van Slyke, refused to give up. She decided to give Baby Seven a chance, even though it meant stepping into “uncharted territory.” In the beginning, veterinarians expected him to live only eight to twelve weeks.
A Life of Fight
Seven first received intensive treatment at the Tennessee Equine Hospital. Later, he was transferred to the University of Tennessee Center for Veterinary Medicine, where he was cared for around the clock.
His story inspired many: it led to the creation of the “Seven Scholarship” – seven scholarships of $7,000 each for aspiring equine veterinarians.
Katie wrote on TikTok:
“We have loved Seven fiercely from the moment he was found… Anyone who dealt with Seven on a personal level knows the fight and LIFE that he exuded every single day. He WANTED life. He FOUGHT for life.”
A Heartbreaking Goodbye
On August 11, 2025, Seven’s condition worsened. He showed signs of colic, and Katie made the hardest decision: to let Seven go – surrounded with love until his very last breath.
Katie wrote:
“We had hoped for more sunny days of watching him graze… more mornings being greeted by his sweet, cheerful whinny… more evenings feeding him his favorite banana treats. We had just hoped for more.”
A Touching Community
What began as a quiet struggle on a farm in Tennessee turned into a worldwide community through TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. People from all over the globe followed Seven’s journey – at first with worry, then with hope, and in the end with broken hearts.
Thousands commented on Katie’s videos, sent encouraging words, prayed, and shared their own stories of premature births – whether human or animal – suddenly feeling connected to strangers across the world. It was as if a tiny foal was building bridges between people who might otherwise never have met.
Many wrote that they had never even touched a horse, yet somehow felt they knew Seven. They celebrated his small victories as if they were monumental: his first steady steps, his playful bursts, the curious glance into the camera. And they held their breath together when setbacks came.
When the news broke that Seven had to be put to sleep, the grief was palpable – not only in the comments but also in the quiet stillness that settled over many social media profiles that day. There were photos of candles, hand-drawn portraits, video montages of his life, and countless words of comfort for Katie and her team.
Baby Seven was not just “the little foal from TikTok” – he became a symbol of how deeply stories of courage, care, and love can touch us, even when we are only watching. And perhaps that was his greatest gift: showing us that compassion knows no boundaries – neither geographical nor between human and animal.
A Personal Goodbye
I never met Baby Seven in person – and yet he touched my heart deeply. His story, his bravery, and the endless love that surrounded him inspired me to draw him.
This drawing is my small tribute to a horse I only knew from videos, but who still found a permanent place in my heart. Perhaps it reflects a little of what so many of us felt: gratitude for every second of his life and sadness at having to say goodbye.
________________________________________
Do you want to learn more about Baby Seven and Running Springs? Then check out YouTube: KVS / Running Springs
Interested in more stories about extraordinary animals? Then feel free to visit my blog: Animal Heroes & Stories
