People are being invited to wear their finest hats and help celebrate 50 years of therapeutic riding in Bermuda.

WindReach will mark the milestone with a fundraiser at its Warwick facility on April 29.

The Bermuda Riding for the Disabled Association introduced the therapy to Bermuda in 1973, making it the fourth country to offer it, behind Denmark, Britain and Germany.

It was first held at a local riding school, until WindReach donated a custom-built facility to the BRDA in 1996.

A spokeswoman for WindReach said: “In 2009, after 13 years of paying the annual rent of one horseshoe, BRDA and WindReach — formerly known as WindReach Recreational Village — merged and therapeutic riding has been a key pillar in WindReach’s programme menu since that time.”

Calling the anniversary a “huge milestone for our little island”, Samantha Hillier, therapeutic riding programme manager, said: “There are so many amazing people that have been part of the programme over the years from therapists to instructors, participants, parents and volunteers.

“We have riders who have consistently been riding within the programme for decades and volunteers who have been part of the programme since the beginning.

“It’s amazing to see the history, talk to everyone involved over the years, and to have the privilege to continue to grow this amazing programme.”

Tina Nash, executive director at WindReach, said: “What an incredible time this is for us at WindReach and for Bermuda.

“Only three other countries have been able to celebrate this incredible milestone — 50 years of providing therapeutic riding to their community living with diverse support needs.

“Here’s looking forward to another 50 years of continued service to our community and Bermuda; we can’t wait.”

Guests are encouraged to dress to impress and sport their best hats at next week’s fundraiser, “An Evening at Royal Ascot”.

It will feature a buffet, wines and spirits, as well as local band Working Title, who will perform the biggest hit songs from the past five decades.

People can also place bets on different horse races and win prizes at the celebration.

Tickets for the event, which will start at 6pm, are $200 and can be bought at ptix.bm.

Tables of ten can be purchased by e-mailing royalascot@windreach.bm.

• Contact 519-4544 for more information