There are many ways that people choose to fill the purpose that they are searching for. For Ann Lesley Smith, purpose and a renewed mission came from an unlikely source. She found it in owning a cherished, one-of-a-kind Arabian stallion named Amir Fadjur Salaam.
The next chapter of Smith’s life is taking place in the gently rolling hills of her California ranch, where the soothing company of Arabian and full-bred thoroughbred horses is ever-present around her. While all of the horses are loved dearly, it is the full-bred Arabian Amir whom Smith has discovered a special affinity for.
In a world that is literally brimful of reinvention stories, the story of Smith is one that sticks out. It is certainly not a story that revolves around the search for fame and relevance but a journey towards spreading the gift of peace and calmness into people’s lives, as well as the extraordinary character of her beloved horse that she feels could make a difference in the world.
Equine empathy: One of the oldest horse breeds changes the game
Just in time for Smith, a special horse came into her life. His name was Amir Fadjur Salaam. Though she had many horses of her own at her estate, built for her late husband, country singer Chester Smith, she knew her horse was special from the very first time she saw him.
“This is a one-of-a-kind legacy,” says Smith. “Amir traces back through an illustrious lineage to The Fabulous Fadjur. The Fabulous Fadjur was one of the most illustrious and revered Arabian horses in history.”
This lineage ensures that Amir inherited all the qualities that were bred in the Arabian bloodline over thousands of years, which included a higher intelligence quotient, a perceptive personality, a highly trainable mentality, and an empathetic nature that tended towards a human-like form of empathy. All these remarkable qualities in her loving horse created in her a sense of passion for achieving a sense of peace not only for herself or the people visiting her estate but for the world at large.
The power of peaceful connection
Today, Smith’s equestrian estate, with its beautiful surroundings and vineyards, serves as a sort of “home base” for her mission of peace, serving as a place where people can find serenity and balance. Smith has opened up her estate on occasion, not just for A-listers or horse lovers, but for anyone who needs a reset in life. For Smith, seeing others recognize the power of the peaceful connection that can be found among her horses is a feeling she describes as transformative.
“They actually let the Arabs run free alongside the riders as they passed through the vineyards or along the riverbeds,” she continues with her explanation, “and when people aren’t used to seeing animals that way, you can see how it makes a difference.”
Even those with little (or no) experience with horses have tapped into what makes the Arabian horse so inimitable among horse breeds. Smith believes Amir has the power to stir something deep inside people — a sort of ancient connection to humanity, partnership, and mutual empathy that can easily get lost in our loud, digitally centered world.
A vision of ancient empathy and the Arabian horse’s connection with humans
Smith has a number of passions by which she could be described as something of a Renaissance woman. These passions involve experiences in radio broadcasting, spirituality, agriculture, and technology. Lately, the cause that Smith has been promoting with particular vigor has been the unusual link between Arabian horses and technology.
“Arabians are known for their sensitivity and understanding,” says Smith. “Amir has kindness, empathy, and understanding – these are human emotions. These are the same qualities tech companies are looking to embed in AI technology.”
Smith also feels that a great deal could be learned by the world of technology from the nomads of the Arab nations regarding horse training. The nomads bred Arabian horses not as animals to be used for carrying loads but more as a part of their families and trained them to have a desire for friendship with humans and created one of the most intelligent breeds of horses with a learning capacity that surpasses all other breeds by a large margin.
Those who fear about the increasing power of machine learning, which removes people of their very humanity, may find the solution to the problem in the infusion of the same empathy bred in Arabian
“Maybe it could be fascinating if a person in the field of AI could see that as a workbench,” says Smith. “Can we have a form of AI technology or robots that can actually live among us that can understand empathy?”
The unique characteristics of Arabian horses and the power of purpose
With a mission of bringing more peace and kindness into a world that can easily feel short on both, Smith continues to turn to her beloved horses for inspiration and encouragement.
“The purity of the Arabian horse and the way they communicate with humans is a rarity these days,” says Smith. “Today, things can easily feel contrived and synthetic. Arabian horses are all about authenticity. They have an undefiled, straight-from-the-heart quality.”
The question in Smith’s mind is whether human beings can learn to feel as deeply as they think. By sharing her sanctuary and exposing people to the distinctive identities of Arabian horses like Amir, Smith is hopeful that someday soon, the world will begin to see better days, full of peace and compassionate connection.
