Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith knows a thing or two about how horses can change the trajectory of someone’s life. On her estate, nestled in the hills of California’s wine country, Smith has surrounded herself with a collection of prized horses that have brought calm and clarity to her life.
Now, through outreach and inspired by her prized Arabian stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam, Smith is showing others how horses can lead the way to mental wellness.
Discovering the healing presence of horses
Smith’s life has traversed the same ups and downs as many, with roles in the media world, ministry, and even music. Upon the death of her husband, musician and mogul Chester Smith, she took up residence in her estate and poured herself into time with her beloved horses, where their healing presence became evident.
“The rhythm of the horses roaming the open space and the quiet companionship they provide has been life-changing,” Smith says.
Time with her horses, and Amir in particular, has become a lifestyle shift for Smith that has been fully equine-assisted. She is now on a mission to reveal the peace and empathetic connection she has found to others who may be seeking a reset in their own lives.
By inviting people to her California estate to relax and soak up the presence of the free-roaming Arabian horses, Smith has gained an insider’s look at how an equine connection can foster mental wellness in others.
“People aren’t accustomed to witnessing the freedom or the empathy that these Arabian horses have,” says Smith. “It inspires something within them. You can see them relax in real time.”
A horse with a legacy of empathy, and using horses to facilitate better mental wellness
Smith’s prized stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam, is a descendant of one of the most celebrated Arabian horses in recent history, The Fabulous Fadjur. Like Fadjur, Amir has a deep empathy, understanding, and human-like personality.
“Over 4,500 years, Arabian horses had this empathy bred into them by Bedouin tribes,” explains Smith. “They have maintained that human-like understanding and ability to connect.”
Once used as symbols of goodwill between countries, Arabian horses have come to be known as particularly intuitive creatures, capable of connecting with humans on a deeper level than other breeds. Having helped direct her energy toward a broader purpose, Smith sees Amir as a living example of the breed’s intelligence, sensitivity, and grace.
“Horses can do more than simply work, compete, or entertain,” says Smith. “They can bring people a feeling of safety and help them breathe and reconnect with themselves and their true purpose.”
It’s an idea that mental health professionals and equine experts have observed over time. Equine therapy programs have long been used, especially in recovery settings, and have been deemed effective, associated with reductions in depression, fatigue, burnout, and even hyperactivity. Intuitive horses, like Arabians, can respond to a human’s tone, body language, and emotional state, prompting people to become more aware of their own internal emotions.
“For someone who is struggling with burnout, stress, grief, or other issues, that feedback can be grounding,” says Smith.
The Arabian horse: An individual symbol of healing
Smith knows well that the Arabian horse is a breed marked by empathy, human-like connection, and, perhaps most important, authenticity. In a time when authentic connection can be in short supply, radically impacting the mental wellness of many, horses give us that authentic understanding many seek.
For Smith, Amir is a specific horse with a specific purpose. Reaching beyond the boundaries of traditional “equine therapy,” Smith’s experience with Amir has been both a sensory and symbolic relationship — one she believes others could benefit from.
“People tend to feel seen around Amir, and that feeling can be therapeutic in and of itself,” she says.
The authenticity that horses bring to the wellness space reflects a broader shift in mental health treatment. People who want to move away from a more screen-based experience tend to find comfort in the very real, tactile healing they can experience with equine therapy.
“Horses are not seeking a polished identity from you,” says Smith. “They simply want presence and consistency.”
The enduring appeal of the equine connection
Equine therapy endures because horses can help people regulate emotions, build trust, and experience calm in a way they haven’t before. For Ann Lesley Smith, her experience with her stallion Amir Fadjur Salaam is all the evidence she needs to prove that the equine connection can be directly linked to better mental wellness.
Amir has become more than just a companion for Smith; he represents a living, breathing reminder that authentic connection can be deeply healing. For people seeking a path to mental wellness, considering a connection with horses can be life-changing.
