For Ann Lesley Smith, former radio host and philanthropist, her California ranch, set among rolling hills and vineyards, is more than just a private escape. Since the death of her husband, mogul and musician Chester Smith, in 2008, Smith has found a new purpose. Part of that purpose was inspired by her home, but the other part was inspired by a deep connection she found with her purebred Arabian horse, Amir Fadjur Salaam.
Drawing from her own experiences with loss and renewal, Smith decided to open her property to people seeking rest and serenity away from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
“I want people to come here and learn what authentic connection can be like,” says Smith. “I want them to slow down, reconnect with nature, and imagine a different life going forward.”
Home base for rest and renewal
Smith’s estate combines the pastoral pleasures of open land, stables, and vineyards. She has reframed these features as effective tools for personal restoration, turning the estate into a home base for her philanthropic work and the horses she loves.
“People find it easy to discover peace, clarity, and comfort here,” Smith explains. “They take in the freedom of the horses, especially the Arabians, and the beautiful, serene surroundings. Witnessing those things in person changes something in them.”
Smith has firsthand experience with how having a place to step away from the stress of daily life can be transformative. Now, as she works to pay it forward, her estate functions as an extension of her philanthropic endeavors.
“Difficult times don’t need to define us for the rest of our lives,” Smith explains. “I’m giving people a place to reset.”
Horses for healing
When Smith’s Arabian horse Amir came into her life, it changed her entire perspective on connection. “There’s an authenticity there, a human-like empathy,” says Smith.
Smith not only touts the calming effect of simply being around horses, but she also feels the Arabian horse breed can be living examples of freedom and dignity. Amir is a direct descendant of The Fabulous Fadjur, one of the most celebrated and award-winning Arabian stallions in recent memory, known for his intelligence, beauty, and ability to connect to humans on a higher level.
Like all other Arabian horses, Fadjur and his lineage have been bred over thousands of years to serve as symbols of peace and goodwill. Smith sees those same attributes today every time she looks at Amir.
“Horses demand that you are present,” Smith says. “In that way, they teach us to be more present in our day-to-day lives.”
Whether visitors to her estate choose an immersive experience with the horses or choose to simply view them as part of the calming landscape, Smith aims to support a journey of emotional healing for each guest she welcomes.
The role of viticulture in healing
Smith is a bit of a Renaissance woman, with interests that span music, faith, and equestrian pursuits. She also has an interest in viticulture — the science and practice of growing grapevines — and has woven this into the experience visitors to her estate receive through training workshops where she helps people learn purposeful work and job skills through viticulture routine.
“Viticulture is all about routine and discipline,” she shares. “So, in its own way, that can be quite healing. For people looking to rebuild their lives, the patience and dedication that viticulture requires can be meaningful.”
Smith finds symbolism in the vineyards surrounding her estate as well. “A vine can be dormant or cut back in one season and come back flourishing and fruitful the next,” she explains. “People can be the same.”
Faith and second chances
Through her connection with her prized horse, Amir, and her overwhelming desire to help others, Smith has found new purpose as she enters her seventies. That purpose has been deeply faith-informed.
“I believe in hope, redemption, and spiritual renewal,” Smith says. “I knew that this place could be more than just a pretty piece of property. It could be a place where people come to embrace rest and embrace change.”
Smith’s California estate exists as a living expression of her broad message of freedom, connection, and empathy for others. From the horses that can teach people about authentic listening to the vineyards that hold lessons on dedication, the estate could be viewed as a school of sorts that teaches others how to embrace the best things about life. It is a lesson that was sometimes hard-won for Smith, but one she feels is crucial for the world to hear.
