KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

Smashville made its way to Tullahoma as nonprofit organization Horse Play, Inc., was one of many organizations to receive a generous donation from the Nashville Predators Foundation.

Back in May, the Nashville Predators Foundation (NPF) presented thousands of dollars to multiple nonprofit organizations across Middle Tennessee that benefited youth and their families. In 2025, the foundation distributed $850,791 to 190 charitable organizations, including Horse Play, Inc. which received $5,000.

 According to Horse Play President Ken Mackay, the donation will go towards to purchasing new saddles.

Horse Play is a local nonprofit that provides therapeutic riding and hippotherapy program for children with special needs that is free for the children and their families. The organization also provides free rehabilitative horseback riding opportunities for children with mental and/or physical challenges from Bedford, Coffee, Franklin, Grundy, Lincoln, and Moore counties.

Following the donation, NPF Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King and other organization representatives took a trip from Nashville to 815 Westside Drive in Tullahoma to check-in on Horse Play and to see the donation in action. Horse Play board members, staff, volunteers and riders gathered inside the John Freeman Riding Arena to show the representatives firsthand what the program does for children on a daily basis.

King said NPF take time out in the summer get into the communities and learn more about the organizations that they are supporting and seeing the grants in action.

“As a foundation, we can raise money, but we don’t run programming,” King said. “So we like to raise money to help everybody else do what they do. And so it’s wonderful to see kids getting to enjoy horses and build confidence and all the things that come with riding.”

As part of the sessions, volunteers and staff worked with the riders as they got on the horses and walked around the arena as they worked on their core strength, balance, concentration and other skills, while the riders also worked on their confidence, independence and accomplishments. King praised the facility and how gentle the horses are to the riders.

“We are just excited to see kids on horses, and I know how much equine therapy does for people’s confidence and for their mobility and its exercise,” King said. “So the fact that we get to see these kids in action is just an honor for us.”

The donation will not be the last time NPF and Horse Play will work together, as King revealed one of the Nashville Predators’ players will giving an additional grant in the coming year. Per King, over half of the team participate in some form of activity relating to the charity.

“His wife owns a horse and they’re huge horse lovers, and this was a natural fit for him.” King said. “We try and find where our players’ passions are because if they’re passionate about it, they’re more likely to support it. As an organization, we all try and give back and our players are a big part of that.”

Mackay thanked the foundation for the donation and looks forward to the partnership.

“They’re very interested in this,” Mackay said. “They don’t have to do this, but they are. My hat is off to them.”

Mackay jokingly said that he loved hockey before, but he loves hockey even more now.

While the donation from NPF helps Horse Play with the purchase of saddles, Mackay said the organization’s two biggest needs are donation and volunteers who can participate in sessions by being horse walkers.

“An hour out of the evening, they could walk alongside of a horse and help these kids,” Mackay said. “They’re doing core strength exercising while they’re riding this horse, and it’s so much more fun than being in a clinic on a mat, now they’re on a horse. You can see the improvement over the weeks that they’re here.”

Anyone interested in volunteering can send a message to Horse Play’s Facebook page at facebook.com/horseplayinc or email horseplayincorporated@gmail.com.

Other local organizations that received grants from NPF include the Hands-On Science Center receiving $4,908; Hospice of the Highland Rim Foundation receiving $5,000; the Imagination Library of Coffee County receiving $4,550; and the Tullahoma South Jackson Civic Association receiving $3,250.

For more about the Predators Foundation visit nashvillepredators.com/foundation or follow the Predators Foundation on its social media pages.