Inspired by her Purebred Arabian Horse, Ann Lesley Smith Explores the Value of Equine Therapy
Ann Lesley Smith, a philanthropist and former radio host from California, has always had a deep love for horses. After the death of her husband, musician and mogul Chester Smith, in 2008, Ann Lesley retreated to her California wine country estate and surrounded herself with her prized Arabian horses.
One horse in particular, Smith’s prized stallion Amir Fadjur Salaam, has provided a new purpose for Smith, one that led her to explore the value of equine therapy as well as animals as symbols of peace and empathy overall.
It was Amir’s singular empathy and level of understanding that encouraged Smith to think outside of the box when approaching the question of how she could best help people. Her connection with Amir sparked an idea and has led to a deep exploration of the value of animals in mental health therapy.
Opening her home as a sanctuary
Smith’s California estate, nestled in the rolling hills of California’s beautiful wine country, was her own sanctuary as she navigated grief and uncertainty over the years. When she brought Amir to the estate, she was struck by how intuitive he was. A direct descendant of The Fabulous Fadjur, one of the most celebrated Arabians in recent history, Amir had aspects of his personality that set him apart from the other horses on Smith’s ranch.
“He can understand you and empathize with you,” Smith explains. “You can see it in his eyes; he has almost human emotions and intelligence.”
That connection with Amir was so fulfilling and healing for Smith that she knew it could be leveraged to help others. So, she decided to open up her home to people needing rest from the rat race, respite from stressful situations, or simply a few days to embrace nature and the splendor of free-roaming Arabian horses.
“People aren’t used to witnessing that type of freedom,” Smith says. “When you see it for yourself, you can understand how transformative it can be.”
At Smith’s estate, people can revel in the immense value of equine therapy by riding horses, becoming a part of their care, or simply resting as the horses roam around them and take in their calm presence. The Arabian breed, in particular, seems tailor-made for this kind of therapeutic work, having been bred over thousands of years to be easily trained, ready to learn, and a calming presence for their owners.
A therapeutic vision
Equine therapy is nothing new, and the merits of the approach are well-documented. Studies show that equine therapy can help facilitate a 46% reduction in addiction and trauma symptoms, an 18-23% increase in global wellness scores for youth, and a staggering 87.5% likelihood of lower PTSD scores after six weeks of equine therapy intervention.
Simply being around horses can lower blood pressure and heart rate, enhance emotional control, patience, and social trust, and even help improve student dropout rates when woven into educational programs.
Smith feels that Amir, in particular, can be an ambassador of empathy on a larger scale.
“Arabian horses were once given as gifts symbolizing goodwill thousands of years ago, and it is because of their level of intelligence and empathy,” she explains.
Through opening her ranch, Smith has shown others how to provide a pathway to therapeutic equine exposure. Her experience is a testament to the fact that simply being around horses can be healing.
The rise of equine therapy in California
California has become somewhat of a hub for equine therapy, largely due to the number of ranches like Smith’s available for therapeutic purposes. From equine-assisted psychotherapy to clinically grounded sessions that involve grooming, riding, or observing horses, the various methods of integrating a love for animals, and horses in particular, and mental healthcare have only grown in popularity.
The model is used to address a wide range of conditions, from PTSD in veterans to professional burnout, addiction, eating disorders, and depression. Some programs use equine therapy as an add-on to other forms of recovery, such as traditional talk therapy.
For Smith’s role, even though she is not a licensed therapy provider, sharing her home has allowed her to harness the benefits of exposure to horses and show how Amir’s intelligence and level of human-like empathy in particular can be life-changing.
A single horse and a storied legacy
Smith has been inspired by Amir and her desire to help others to think big. The same qualities that make equine therapy effective are the qualities that Smith builds into every philanthropic idea she pursues.
As California and the world continue to expand access to equine and animal-assisted therapy approaches, stories like Smith’s may help people better understand how, even in our busy, synthetic digital age, sometimes all one needs is the quiet and calming presence of a horse.
Company Details
| Organization: — |
| Contact Person Name: Ann Lesley Smith |
| Website: https://annlesleysmith.com/ |
| Email: ann@annlesleysmith.com |
| Country: United States |
