There’s a particular kind of silence that settles over you when you stand beside a horse who trusts you completely. Not the absence of sound—the birds still sing, the wind still moves through the oaks—but the presence of something deeper. A stillness that has nothing to do with quiet and everything to do with being…
There are some things in life that go far beyond admiration. Horses are one of them. For those of us who have loved, raised, ridden, and lived alongside horses, they do not stay in the barn, the pasture, or the show ring. They come home with us. They find their way into our living rooms,…
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…
Philanthropist and former radio host Ann Lesley Smith could be considered a modern-day Renaissance woman. She has dipped her toes into several interests, from music to helping people connect with their faith. At 70, an age where most people are ready to stop work and relax, Smith is embarking on a new purpose — and…
Ann Lesley Smith has lived a Renaissance Woman-type existence for as long as she can remember, having been involved in the media world, music, and even the clergy. Her life has been shaped and reshaped by ups and downs, grief and faith, and the connections she has made along the way. Today, it is Smith’s…
If you spend your days around horses, you already know—cowboy boots are not a fashion choice. They are a necessity. At my horse sanctuary here in California, boots are part of everyday life. From early morning feedings to long days in the arena, proper footwear matters. You are walking through dirt, mud, uneven ground, and…
Every rider has a saddle story. Mine starts with an English saddle, and honestly, it never really wandered far from there. People ask me all the time which I prefer — English or Western — and I am always happy to tell them. But I want to say up front: this is just my opinion….
There is a particular kind of light in the Central Valley in the late afternoon — the kind that turns everything gold and makes the dust hang in the air like glitter. That is the light I love best, because that is when Amir looks like he was poured straight out of a painting. My…