At 70, Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith is Finding New Purpose in a Purebred Arabian Horse with a Storied Legacy

As philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith enters her seventies, she has taken time to look back on the many lives she has led. She’s been a chaplain, a musician, and a radio host. Now, she is set on a new purpose, one that draws inspiration from the most unlikely of sources: a rare Arabian stallion named Amir Fadjur Salaam.

For Smith, Amir’s human-like empathy and understanding have been eye-opening. It has led her to consider how she can help others find peace in their own lives. These qualities have also opened up a new path that she hopes will resonate outside the walls of her California estate.

A horse with a meaningful legacy

Amir is a horse with a notable lineage. As a direct descendant of The Fabulous Fadjur, one of the more celebrated Arabian horses in recent history, Ann says he reflects qualities often associated with the breed, including sensitivity, intelligence and a strong capacity for connection with people.

This particular nature stood out to Smith immediately. “You can see it in his eyes,” she says. “He understands you.”

It was not simply Amir’s pedigree that changed the direction of Smith’s life, but the way he helped usher peace and respite into her world. It was a feeling that Smith wanted others to have.

Smith’s connection with Amir was the push she needed to open her estate to others seeking rest or simply some time away from the hustle and bustle of modern life. Visitors to her estate can spend time with the free-roaming horses, in a setting that many describe as peaceful, grounding and unusually freeing.

“You can feel people relax in the presence of the horses,” says Smith. “It can be transformative.”

The authenticity of the Arabian horse

Bred for centuries by Bedouin tribes, Arabian horses have long been valued not only for their strength and endurance, but also for their close companionship and place within daily community life. Years of thoughtful breeding have shaped a horse known for sensitivity and presence, qualities that can support a grounded connection with people in a world where many interactions feel increasingly mediated or artificial.

“Everything has a way of feeling too fast and fragmented these days,” says Smith. “People are craving something real, and horses like Amir offer that level of authenticity.”

Smith even believes that the Arabian horse could act as a blueprint for technology developers. Seeing how many developers were seeking ways to make AI technology more human-like and empathetic, Smith began to think that if they could take a cue from how these horses were bred thousands of years ago, they could tap into how to instill acute sensitivity into advanced technology systems.

A message of goodwill

Arabian horses were not just companion animals for Bedouin tribes. They were also used as goodwill ambassadors of sorts, given as gifts between nations. Today, Smith refers to Amir as an “Ambassador of Peace,” but this title is not just symbolic. Smith believes Amir can serve a practical purpose by conveying a message of goodwill in times of deep division.

“Amir’s presence alone invites people to slow down and connect on a deeper level, not just with nature but with themselves,” says Smith.

Smith knows that this ancient role of the Arabian horse could be renewed today. “I think the simplicity of the human-animal connection could open doors that technology simply cannot,” she says.

A focus on tradition, innovation and serenity

Ann Lesley Smith has long embraced a wide range of interests, guided by curiosity and a desire to help others notice the beauty around them. For Smith, purpose doesn’t always demand urgent attention. Sometimes, it is okay to let it slowly unfold or even come to you. With Amir, purpose showed up in her estate pasture one day and has never left.

Through a dedication to upholding the tradition of Arabian horses and their unique personalities, Smith has found vision, intention and meaning in her own life and helped others find the same in theirs. She is less focused on reinvention than she is on creating a life that rewards slowing down and savoring each moment.

With Amir by her side, Smith is ushering in her seventies with excitement over what is to come and a sense of peace that she cannot wait to share with others.