A therapy pony will bring support to people with special needs “for years” after people from around the world donated cash for the cause.

Tina and Mark Nash were aiming to raise $27,500 during their Peaks For Ponies fundraiser in support of WindReach, but surpassed their goal and have now raised $32,000.

As well as receiving money from Bermudians, people from Britain, the United States and Canada also chipped in with donations.

Mrs Nash told The Royal Gazette: “We are so grateful for all the help we have received.

“The pony, Mosaic, or Mo for short, who is from Miami, will help build confidence and bring pleasure for people for a long time.

“Mo is an amazing therapeutic pony and will give so much to Bermuda for years and years. The extra money raised will go towards vet bills, food and care.”

The pony will be part of WindReach’s therapeutic riding programme offering riding lessons to people with special needs to help build physical strength, balance and self-esteem.

Mrs Nash is WindReach’s executive director, but organised the Peaks for Ponies project as a personal initiative.

As part of the fundraiser, Mrs Nash and her husband spent 12 days in England in July, tackling some of the Lake District’s mountain peaks.

The goal was to climb more than 30,000ft, but they surpassed the target, hitting 31,425ft and climbing 41 peaks.

During their first three days of the climb in July, England experienced record high temperatures, hitting 88F (31C) in the Lake District.

Mrs Nash said the heat was compounded by a lack of air conditioning, ice cubes and window screens. “When you are from Bermuda, you are used to things like air conditioning,” she said.

One of their most difficult hikes came on their last day when they took on Helvellyn, the third highest peak in England at 3,117ft.

She said: “You are walking across a very narrow ridge there.” There are steep drops on either side of the ridge.

Mrs Nash says she is not a horse person, but she felt a special bond with Mosaic after all the fundraising work she has done to help buy the pony.

Mosaic is a specially trained, 12-year-old palomino quarter horse, originally from Florida.

WindReach’s therapeutic riding manager, Sam Hillier, spent months searching stables across America and Canada to find the right horses to double the charity’s herd which has now risen to six ponies.

People can still make donations to the therapeutic riding programme directly to WindReach. Donors should go to www.windreachbermuda.org, call 238-2469 or e-mail windreach@windreach.bm.