The horse sanctuaries that dot the vineyard landscape of California’s wine country are more than just scenic retreats. Many have become wellness destinations, reflective places where people can embrace slow living, reconnect with their purpose, and find respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
The estate owned by philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith is no exception. Smith has created a setting that blends natural beauty with a deeply meaningful connection to the horses that have changed her own outlook on life: her prized Arabians.
An Arabian stallion and a spiritual haven
Smith has always been driven by her connection to faith and her desire to help others. When she brought her horse, Amir Fadjur Salaam, to her estate, a whole new pathway and purpose opened up before her.
“When you look into his eyes, you can feel that there’s something looking back that understands you,” Smith says of Amir. “He can connect with people much in the same way humans do.”
A direct descendant of The Fabulous Fadjur, a famous, award-winning Arabian horse, Amir possesses the same level of sharp intelligence and capability for empathy that Fadjur became known for.
Smith found solace in her time with her horses, especially Amir, who helped her realize that real healing was possible and that a clear purpose could be revealed. She recently decided to open her estate to visitors seeking rest, clarity, and comfort amid the open fields and free-roaming horses.
It is a project that has a history of success. Horse sanctuaries have long doubled as places for humans to embrace nature and find quiet in a noisy world. The presence of the horses, especially intuitive breeds like Arabians, only enhanced the benefits of the sanctuary, giving visitors exposure to peaceful creatures living in a calm environment.
How being around horses can help people heal
Equine therapy has long been an option for people dealing with everything from trauma to addiction. The nonverbal connection that people can have with horses can encourage them to slow their breathing, become attuned to body language, and remain present in the moment.
“It’s a calming rhythm that supports reflection,” Smith says.
Smith has seen the transformation in people firsthand. When they come to her estate, she often invites them to ride horses among the free-roaming Arabians, sit with them (Amir in particular), and just soak in their calming presence.
“You can see the change in their eyes and in their demeanor,” Smith explains. “It puts people at ease.”
Arabian horses were specifically bred by Bedouin tribes thousands of years ago to serve as far more than mere beasts of burden. The years of specialized breeding and connection with human beings have created a breed that is intelligent, graceful, and carries a human-like empathy that is hard to come by in other breeds. It is why Smith has been so drawn to having Arabian horses on her estate.
“Their freedom and intelligence can be considered a living metaphor for human renewal and connection,” she says.
Spiritual wellness in practice
As Smith enters her seventies, her new philanthropic purpose has changed the way she sees the world. She believes that Amir could be helpful in her endeavors.
“Arabian horses were once given as gifts of goodwill between nations,” she explains. “I think Amir could be an Ambassador of Peace on a wider scale.”
Thinking beyond the walls of her estate is exciting for Smith, who has seen how communing with Arabian horses has helped visitors find spiritual wellness. Now, she hopes to expand that practice to the world at large.
“The peaceful feeling that people get being around Amir and other horses could be felt on a larger scale,” says Smith. “It’s a level of authenticity and empathy that I think people today are simply not accustomed to. That’s why it’s so transformative.”
Through her work with Amir and opening up her estate, Smith has put her belief in the power of spiritual wellness into practice.
“Healing can happen in ordinary quiet moments, and horse sanctuaries are a great way to see that in action,” she says.
Finding peace and serenity
Horse sanctuaries offer people something exceedingly rare in our fast-paced world: a place where people can slow down, reconnect with nature, and experience the powerful presence of intuitive animals like Amir. For Ann Lesley Smith, her own sanctuary is part of a larger mission rooted in faith and the idea that peace can be something that is lived and shared.
By leaning into this mission, Smith has created not just a place to visit, but a place for healing, reflection, and building new purpose.
