Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith and Her Work Promoting Equine-Assisted Healing Programs Featuring Arabian Horses

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Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith and Her Work Promoting Equine-Assisted Healing Programs Featuring Arabian Horses

In a world that often feels synthetic and disconnected, philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith is working to build bridges and embrace empathy. Through her work in the equine industry, Smith is highlighting the potential benefits many people associate with spending time around horses, especially with intuitive breeds like the Arabian horse. 

Smith is helping reshape the conversation around the equine industry by linking Arabian horses not just to tradition or their ability to convey empathy, but to healing and resilience. She is part of a new class of female entrepreneurs who are transforming the equine industry through multifaceted healing programs.

A broader vision of equine-assisted healing

For Smith, horses have always represented more than a fun hobby or prestige. Her prized Arabian stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam, is a testament to this. A descendant of one of the most celebrated Arabian horses in recent history, The Fabulous Fadjur, Amir has a personality so deeply rooted in human-like understanding and empathy that he has become central to Smith’s new purpose.

Being among her horses on her California estate was such a therapeutic experience for Smith that she decided to pay it forward. She has embraced the benefits of equine exposure and invited people seeking rest, respite, and a break from the stress of hustle culture to her estate, where they can be among the horses and soak in the unique understanding that Amir provides.

“You can see it in their eyes when they’re around him,” says Smith. “People immediately relax around him because he can understand them. He has empathy, and most people aren’t used to experiencing that feeling with horses.”

By opening up her estate, Smith has contributed to a broader vision of equine-assisted healing. Though not equine therapy in the traditional, clinical sense, it is a program that taps into the healing power of exposure to horses.

Why equine-assisted healing programs matter

Healing programs that use horses as a means of therapy are valuable because they combine movement, connection, and emotional regulation. “People find it deeply grounding,” says Smith. 

Therapeutic riding can help people learn how to stay present, build confidence, and develop trust. Meanwhile, the horse’s steady rhythm encourages better breathing and body awareness.

Equine therapy has been successfully implemented for the disability community, mental health retreats, substance abuse programs, and physical rehabilitation programs. Research has examined equine-assisted therapy as a complementary approach for individuals with conditions such as PTSD, depression, anxiety, and anger-related concerns.

“It’s not just a soothing experience when you’re with the horses,” Smith says. “It’s an experience that gives you a sense of control.”

Compassion as a platform for inspiration and innovation

Smith has long been a leader in philanthropy and compassionate innovation. As she enters her seventies, she is on a mission to spread the word about the value of stewardship, goodwill, wellness, and passion-driven leadership to other female philanthropists and entrepreneurs. She offers a model for women who may want to help others, but are unsure of where to start. 

In the equine industry, the focus is often on breeding, luxury, trophies, and sport. Smith’s story, and by extension Amir’s, proves that the definition of success can be wider than it has been in the past. By emphasizing wellness infrastructure, therapeutic access, and community benefit, Smith is encouraging people to look at horses in a different light.

Amir as a symbol at the center of Smith’s message

Smith knows she would not be doing the work she does today without Amir. His influence stands as the cornerstone of her message of peace, renewal, and the value of time with horses.

Smith is hopeful that others will use her example as a blueprint for the next generation of women influencers in the equine space.

“Whether they are creating a space for rest and renewal or they are developing programs around the unique qualities that horses, especially Arabian horses, have, we can expand access to peace and deepen the social impact of equine therapy,” Smith explains.

A new legacy for Arabian horses

Arabian horses like Amir have a long legacy of connection to humans. Now, with new strides in equine therapy, a new legacy is being formed for this noble breed. 

After experiencing loss and the ups and downs that many of us face over a long life, Smith has tapped into a way to help guide people to the peace and connection that she found through Amir. By championing equine-assisted healing and restorative experiences with horses, she is not only helping transform lives but also redefining what equestrian success looks like.