{"id":247223,"date":"2026-06-22T12:38:38","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T12:38:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesnewswire.com\/?p=198948"},"modified":"2026-06-22T12:38:38","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T12:38:38","slug":"how-philanthropist-ann-lesley-smith-was-inspired-by-her-purebred-arabian-horse-to-help-others-with-spiritual-and-personal-wellness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipsnews.net\/business\/2026\/06\/22\/how-philanthropist-ann-lesley-smith-was-inspired-by-her-purebred-arabian-horse-to-help-others-with-spiritual-and-personal-wellness\/","title":{"rendered":"How Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith Was Inspired By Her Purebred Arabian Horse to Help Others With Spiritual and Personal Wellness"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

For philanthropist and former radio host <\/span>Ann Lesley Smith<\/span><\/a>, her personal journey to renewal and restoration has been informed by a deep, abiding faith and an unlikely connection with a special animal companion: her Arabian stallion, <\/span>Amir Fadjur Salaam<\/span><\/a>. Through the example of Amir\u2019s almost human-like ability to empathize and understand, Smith has gained an understanding of emotional renewal and has paid it forward to others seeking healing after trauma.<\/span><\/p>\n

A mission shaped by faith and a very special horse<\/b><\/h2>\n

There is a strong spiritual thread running through Smith\u2019s mission to help others. \u201cI believe that through faith and embracing peace, people can reclaim their stories,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s California estate, nestled in the rolling hills and vineyards of wine country, has evolved with her mission. Once simply a sanctuary for her and her horses, the estate is now open to others seeking respite and renewal amid the hustle and bustle of modern life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More than just a place for therapeutic healing, Smith\u2019s estate has become a space for spiritual connection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHealing is something active and participatory,\u201d says Smith. \u201cPeace is a practice that people have to choose.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It was Smith\u2019s horse, Amir, that inspired her to begin to think about connection, renewal, and empathy. A direct descendant of <\/span>The Fabulous Fadjur<\/span><\/a>, one of the most celebrated Arabian horses in modern history, Amir has a human-like ability to connect with others, a hallmark of the Arabian horse\u2019s bloodline for centuries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Bred by Bedouin tribes 4,500 years ago<\/span><\/a> to be more companion than beast of burden, the Arabian horse has become known for its singular intelligence and empathy. Smith knew that by bringing others to her estate, she could help them find the same healing connection and serenity with Amir and her other Arabian horses that she had discovered.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou see a change in people,\u201d Smith explains. \u201cThey begin to relax once they are confronted with the freedom that these horses possess.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Horses for empathetic healing<\/b><\/h2>\n

Smith has seen the healing power of equine connection firsthand. \u201cHorses can absolutely help people reset emotionally,\u201d she shares.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once given as gifts to symbolize goodwill, Arabian horses in particular have had a special role in the lives of humans throughout history. \u201cWith horses like Amir, people begin to understand their own capacity for connection,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amir carries a message that goes beyond the walls of Smith\u2019s estate. She believes his perceptive and intelligent qualities can frame a larger conversation about human relationships, peace in a time of deep division, authenticity at a time of synthetic connection, and even technological innovation.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe live at a time when people are not used to real, tangible connection with others,\u201d says Smith. \u201cBut Amir is capable of that. You can see it in his eyes; he understands you. There is empathy there. I think we can all learn from that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Recently, Smith saw the announcement of Boston Dynamics\u2019 <\/span>Atlas Humanoid Robot<\/span><\/a>. She was inspired, again, by her connection with Amir, coming up with the somewhat radical idea that if empathy and understanding could be \u201cprogrammed\u201d into a horse over thousands of years, perhaps that horse could be used as a blueprint for today\u2019s AI technology tools, bringing them closer to being human-like than ever before.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know that if the Bedouin tribes could program Arabian horses to be the highly intelligent and empathic creatures that they are today, we can learn from that approach,\u201d Smith says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Creating a transformative life and mission<\/b><\/h2>\n

As she enters her 70s, Smith is determined to make the best of what she has learned from Amir. Her story is bigger than horses, her estate, or even her search for wellness and spiritual healing. It is about how those elements combine to make \u200ca better world for everyone. Through her connection to her faith and her equestrian expertise, Smith has shown how healing can be both a spiritual journey and a personal achievement.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the center of Smith\u2019s mission to help others stands Amir, a horse unlike any other. He shows what is so unique about the Arabian breed and why, for thousands of years, human beings have connected to these majestic creatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s far-reaching message is multifaceted yet altogether simple: peace, connection, and healing are possible \u2014 no matter what someone has been through. In a world that often feels like it is moving too fast, Smith offers people a chance to slow down, reflect on their lives, and heal.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For philanthropist and former radio host Ann Lesley Smith, her personal journey to renewal and restoration has been informed by a deep, abiding faith and an unlikely connection with a special animal companion: her Arabian stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam. Through the example of Amir\u2019s almost human-like ability to empathize and understand, Smith has gained an… Continue Reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":344,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[374],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-247223","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ipsnews"],"yoast_head":"\nHow Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith Was Inspired By Her Purebred Arabian Horse to Help Others With Spiritual and Personal Wellness - Business<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ipsnews.net\/business\/2026\/06\/22\/how-philanthropist-ann-lesley-smith-was-inspired-by-her-purebred-arabian-horse-to-help-others-with-spiritual-and-personal-wellness\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith Was Inspired By Her Purebred Arabian Horse to Help Others With Spiritual and Personal Wellness - Business\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For philanthropist and former radio host Ann Lesley Smith, her personal journey to renewal and restoration has been informed by a deep, abiding faith and an unlikely connection with a special animal companion: her Arabian stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam. 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