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It was a weekday afternoon. Teresa Shafer was inside her home situated on her West Knoxville horse farm, pulling food from the refrigerator, cutting up vegetables, making lunch. They were simple movements, things she'd done her whole life.

But still, Teresa said, "It's hard when I'm not hungry and know I need to eat." For her, food fed her anxiety more than it filled her body. She started struggling with an eating disorder when she was 17-years-old. At her lowest point, she weighed 88 pounds. Teresa was then hospitalized in 2001 and diagnosed with anorexia, something she would battle most of her life.

We'll get back to Teresa's story in a moment. But first, another one was beginning. Horse Haven of Tennessee had just taken in a horse named Isaac, found starving alongside two other horses. Founder Nina Margetson said, "There was evidence he was chewing on the barn he was in trying to get nourishment off the wood. His ribs were showing his hip bones were protruding his wither was sticking out his top line was very prominent."

Isaac had sores on his body from laying in filth. His tail had been chopped off, allegedly used in cult rituals. Margetson said she'd never seen a horse so happy to leave. "When we went and picked him up that day you could kind of notice in his eyes oh thank you you’re here. He just loaded right in the trailer like get me out of here."

Margetson said it wasn't the rescue that was memorable. It was the way Isaac recovered. "This horse had something special, the way it moved, its confirmation, there was just something really special about this horse. We just kind of waited for that right adopter to come along and give him that chance he needed."

This is where Teresa and Isaac intersected. She led Local 8 News Anchor Amanda Hara to one of the paddocks on her property and continued to discuss her battle with anorexia. Teresa said, "When I got out of treatment they encouraged me to do something I really loved to do. That's what led me back to riding again."

That's what led her to Issac. She was not riding regularly, and was not looking for a horse but agreed to go with a friend who was in the market. The pair visited Penrose Farm, the home of the Maryville College Equestrian Team. That's where Isaac was continuing his recovery after the initial rescue by Horse Haven.

Teresa recalled refusing to watch the horse go, or sit on his back. She was firm in her intentions not to take in another horse. But eventually she said her friend wore her down and coaxed her into the saddle to give Isaac a try. Teresa said she instantly fell in love and took Isaac home.

Eventually, after months of training and earning trust, Teresa rode her rescue pony into the biggest show ring in the country. She qualified for the United States Dressage Finals held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky. Teresa said, "Honestly I couldn’t believe I was there. I couldn’t believe I was there on a rescue horse. Who would have ever thought? Who would have ever thought this little horse that was starved with his tail chopped off and sores under his stomach could have gone and done any of what he’s done?"

Teresa and Isaac took second place in the National Pony Finals, a moment she described as one of the best memories of her life. But the real strides were happening at home.

She said, "I was riding last week and I just realized, Teresa you would never treat any one of your horses the way you’ve been treating yourself."

It turned out the little horse that was saved from starvation, rescued Teresa from herself. Isaac filled her with love, the nourishment she needed most. "I would like myself to be more generous and kind to myself and I think that is something he shows me everyday. Isaac has certainly been a part of a rescue for me. To me, it’s just a great story."