Several songs on "Horses" were inspired by Smith's experiences with her family. "Redondo Beach", in which Smith sings about despairing over a missing lover, was written by Smith following an incident involving her sister Linda: the two sisters had gotten into a heated argument, prompting Linda to leave their shared apartment and not return until the next day. "Kimberly" is a dedication to its namesake, Smith's younger sister, and finds the singer recounting a childhood memory of holding Kimberly in her arms during a lightning storm. On "Free Money", Smith describes growing up in poverty in New Jersey and recalls her mother fantasizing about winning the lottery.