The Gray Divorce Podcast: Episode 65 Horses and Divorces with Kim Smith, LMFT
In this episode, I chat with Kim Smith, LMFT, a long-time colleague and licensed marriage and family therapist based in Las Vegas. Kim has been practicing for over 20 years, working with clients in both traditional office settings and a much more unexpected environment—a horse arena. Through her practice, Healing Hooves Therapy, Kim incorporates equine facilitated therapy, a powerful and research-backed approach to emotional healing that involves working directly with horses.
What Is Equine Facilitated Therapy?
Kim explains how equine therapy works, and why horses—specifically—make such effective therapeutic partners. As prey animals, horses are highly attuned to energy, body language, and nonverbal cues, offering clients immediate feedback without judgment. Their ability to stay in the moment and respond authentically helps clients become more self-aware, emotionally grounded, and connected to their feelings.
The Origins of Kim’s Work with Horses
Kim shares how her own healing experiences with horses as a young person shaped her interest in using them as co-therapists. Dissatisfied with traditional approaches that often failed to produce lasting change, Kim began researching alternative modalities. Her love of horses and commitment to evidence-based treatment led her to pursue formal training and certification in equine therapy.
Meet the Healing Hooves Team
We’re introduced to three of Kim’s equine partners—each with a unique personality and therapeutic gift:
- Thor – A tall, intuitive ex-racehorse who offers a calm, grounding presence.
- Spot – A playful paint horse who challenges clients to communicate clearly and assertively.
- Cinnamon – A reserved and sensitive horse who requires calm, focused energy and teaches clients about patience and emotional regulation.
Horses and Divorce Recovery
We explore how equine therapy can be especially healing for people going through or recovering from divorce—particularly later in life. Kim highlights how horses can help clients rebuild self-esteem, set boundaries, grieve lost dreams, and reconnect with their inner strength. Whether brushing a horse or walking beside it, the interaction creates a space for emotional healing and forward movement.
Communication and Boundaries
Equine therapy reveals how we communicate—both verbally and nonverbally—and the ways we might unintentionally disconnect from others. Kim describes how working with horses mirrors real-life dynamics in relationships, offering clients the opportunity to practice setting boundaries, giving and receiving direction, and responding to feedback in real time.
Healing Energy and Emotional Insight
Kim shares compelling stories of clients whose emotional breakthroughs were mirrored by the horses in profound ways. From a horse standing up at the exact moment a client acknowledged a need to stand up for herself, to another quietly offering presence during a moment of grief, the horses' sensitivity to human energy often speaks louder than words.
Workshops and Coaching
In addition to her therapy practice, Kim offers a nationwide coaching program, From Chaos to Clarity, and hosts wellness events in Las Vegas. For those outside Nevada, coaching sessions can be done virtually—and visitors to Las Vegas can schedule in-person equine sessions by appointment.
Resources
🌐 Healing Hooves Therapy: https://healinghoovestherapy.com
📧 Contact: appointments@healinghoovestherapy.com
🌎 From Chaos to Clarity Coaching Program – Available nationwide
📅 Las Vegas Wellness Workshop – May 17, 2025 (Full-day event with holistic healers, Reiki, sound baths, and more)