Positive about Down syndrome

Positive about Down syndrome provides information and support to new and expectant parents of a little one with Down syndrome.

We have amazing online support for our families, we know how important it is for them to have access to accurate contemporary information and so provide our book #NobodyToldMe the truth about Down syndrome to families and literature to maternity units.

We have recently introduced online early development groups for our preschoolers, baby Makaton signing courses for new parents and Makaton training for members’ nurseries/childminders.

We believe every parent should receive the best possible care and support.

We believe the arrival of every baby with Down syndrome should be celebrated.

We believe every child with Down syndrome should be given every opportunity to flourish and thrive.

  /  Growing up   /  Megan
Growing up, Neutral

Megan

Hi I am Megan Wilcox and I have Down Syndrome but that doesn’t stop me being amazing.

I started riding when I was just two years old at Follifoot Park Riding centre in Harrogate. I started riding because my Mummy used to ride and she was really good. I ride now nearly every day with the Burrell Dressage Team at Pannal, where my pony Dunks lives.

I have had Dunkie since September 2014 and I love her! She is 23 years old, 13 hands 2 and is a dun pony. Sometimes she is a monkey but I still love her to bits. I was very lucky because Izzy Palmer, the youngest member on the BEF UK sport lottery funded World Class Development programme, gave me Dunks. She is very supportive and very nice. I hope one day I will be as good as Izzy Palmer, Sophie Wells, Charlotte Dujardin and William Fox Pitt.

To be as good as them takes a lot of practice. I am very lucky that I have lessons with my idol Sophie Wells and have Izzy as my mentor. I also have my Mummy who tells me how to improve. I love making my Mum proud. I love competing with my pony Dunks.

My proudest achievement so far was when I got 3rd place at the RDA National Championships at Hartpury with a personal best score. I also won gold in Sheffield for the Special Olympics National Games. When I found out I got so excited, I went a bit crazy and bounced up and down.

This year I have left school. My education experience from being a year 7 to finishing school was amazing. I have had GCSE in Food Tech I did Italian, science, as well as my maths and English. But my favourite was doing an EQL course at Follifoot riding stables. In September I am going to do more of this at college in York where I will do NVQ Level 1 in Equine or Horse Care.

In the future I want to be a professional horse rider and go to the Paralympics.

My advice for anyone with Down Syndrome would be to get on a horse, try your best and be determined in what you want to do.

If you would like to learn more about me and my riding please like my Facebook page Megan Wilcox Dressage or follow me on Twitter @Megwdressage

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