I’ve worn a lot of hats — vineyard manager, property developer, daughter, sister, wife, and executor of estates. I’ve been a negotiator with contractors, a translator for Spanish-speaking crews, and a mediator between family members who stopped speaking decades ago. I’ve sat in boardrooms and driven Porsches down Highway 99 and Jeeps through flooded creek…
The 2026 Kentucky Derby, held on May 2nd in Louisville, gave those of us who are more equestrian-minded something to enjoy and marvel at. The speed and agility of the modern Thoroughbred racehorses are a draw year after year. For most people, the Kentucky Derby is about watching world-class jockeys race magnificent horses, and maybe…
Set amid the rolling hills and picturesque vineyards of California wine country, philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith’s estate is more than just a private home or sanctuary for her and her collection of horses. The environment Smith has built has been carefully cultivated into a place where connection and the healing presence of an Arabian stallion…
There’s something about horses that draws people in. It doesn’t matter your age, your background, or where you come from — horses have a way of capturing the heart with their beauty, their strength, and their presence. I’ve loved horses all my life, and like so many others, I’ve admired what seems like perfection when…
Thousands of years ago, Arabian horses were bred by Bedouin tribes to be more than simple beasts of burden. They were part of the tribe itself, trusted confidants with deep empathy, more than other horses. Today, that enduring legacy of the Arabian horse holds strong, and no one can attest to this more than philanthropist…
There are over 300 recognized horse breeds in the world, but one stands out among the pack. The Arabian horse has become known not only for its beauty and grace in movement but also for its steadfast loyalty and almost human-like ability to feel and give empathy. Revered across the Arab world for their intelligence…
The prized Arabian stallion owned by Ann Lesley Smith, named Amir Fadjur Salaam, is more than just a pet or a horse among many that roam Smith’s estate in California. He is a direct descendant of one of the most famous Arabians in recent history, The Fabulous Fadjur. The Fadjur bloodline has become known for…
Ann Lesley Smith’s prized Arabian stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam, is not just a rare example of this dynastic breed; he is a living connection between ancient Arabian bloodlines and today’s hustle-and-bustle world. Amir’s example of empathy and compassion has its place in today’s culture of often synthetic connections, and with his human-like ability to understand…