Most People Retire at 70. Philanthropist Ann Lesley Smith is Just Getting to the Good Part, Thanks to Her Purebred Arabian Horse

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 has found inspiration from the most unlikely source.

At her California estate, nestled within the rolling hills and beautiful vineyards of wine country, Smith has found a level of serenity many spend their entire lives seeking. It has been her connection with her Arabian stallion, Amir Fadjur Salaam, that has been the catalyst for this change. 

“You can see it in his eyes,” Smith says of Amir. “He understands you. There’s empathy there.”

Smith’s connection with this incredible horse has led to an awakening for her and a new purpose as she enters her seventies.

Inspired by an Arabian horse

The moment Smith brought Amir to her estate, she knew he was special. A direct descendant of one of the most celebrated Arabian horses in recent history, The Fabulous Fadjur, Amir has a level of human-like intelligence and an ability to show empathy that have been hallmarks of the breed for millennia. 

Like many, Smith has been through ups and downs in her life. After the passing of her husband, mogul and musician Chester Smith, she retreated to her estate. Through connecting with Amir, she found a pathway toward healing, respite, and renewal. For Smith, it was life-changing. 

“We live in a time where we are accustomed to everything being synthetic,” she explains. “Everything about horses like Amir is intentional and authentic.” 

This life-altering, deep personal growth that Smith found was so impactful that she wanted to share it with others by opening her estate so they could come and be around Amir and her other horses to find the same kind of serenity she has enjoyed.

Visitors to the estate can witness the horses roaming free. “Most people are not used to that level of freedom,” says Smith. “It changes something in them.”

A broader mission of peace

Besides what Smith offers people seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of life, she also believes Amir can be an ambassador of peace in a time of bitter division.

“For thousands of years, Arabian horses were used as symbols of goodwill between countries,” Smith explains. “I believe Amir can signal a return to that.”

Arabian horses were bred over thousands of years by Bedouin tribes to be more companions than workhorses. They were invited to be a part of the tribe and had human-like responses and empathy “programmed” into them. Those unique attributes endure and continue in horses like Amir.

Not only does Smith believe Amir could be a symbol of peace, but she also believes the Arabian breed could serve as a blueprint for modern technology.

“Current AI developers are trying to embed more empathy and human-like feelings into AI technology, like robots made to help humans,” says Smith. “The Bedouin tribes managed to do that with a horse thousands of years ago. I think today’s developers could learn from that.”

While it’s a heavy burden for Amir to carry, Smith believes he is ready for his moment.

“These horses have been raised to physical perfection and have a deeply ingrained sense of loyalty,” she says. “They will take care of others unlike any other horse breed.”

A later-in-life purpose

As she enters her seventies, Smith is excited about what is to come. She has lived a life of deep faith and philanthropy and hopes that by opening up her estate and positioning Amir as a symbol of peace, she can make a significant impact on the world as a whole.

At a time when life can seem very contrived, a horse that is more than just an ancient wonder has changed how Smith sees the world. “He challenges the idea that animals exist on another emotional plane,” she says.

For Smith, peace and renewal have been a part of her time on her estate and with Amir. She is hopeful that she can help others realize that it is never too late to discover their purpose and enjoy everything beautiful the world has to offer.