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Megan Just one of the girls at the RDA

Sitting tall in Cisco's saddle, Megan Carey looks quite at home.

More importantly she looks like any other young horse rider, and at Tauranga Riding for the Disabled is not being judged by her disability.

Watching on proudly is Miss Carey's mother, Penny, who with husband Geoff has always made a point of encouraging her daughter, now 20, to aim high.

"I was determined that she would have the same opportunities as the rest, to get for her what the rest of us take for granted," Mrs Carey said.

Like any other young woman, Miss Carey had goals and dreams, grappled with relationships, liked to dance and worried about what to wear.

The fourth of five children, her daughter was a great aunty to her two nieces, Mrs Carey said.

"She's pretty easy-going, she's pretty accepting of life, although she can dig her toes in when required."

Mostly though, Miss Carey just wanted to blend in to the crowd.

"She wants to be like other people, she doesn't want to stand out as being somebody different."

Born with Down syndrome, Miss Carey has had to learn skills others develop instinctively.

"Everything you do and you pick up just by watching, Megan has to make a conscious effort to learn it and we have to make a conscious effort to teach her," Mrs Carey said.

Three days a week, Miss Carey takes part in a work-skills class at the Windermere campus of Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, where she spends most of her time indoors developing the skills she hopes will see her find a part-time job.

For her, Riding for the Disabled is a chance to relax, enjoy the outdoors and spend time around the horses she loves.

It is also a chance to socialise and make friends.

Mrs Carey said people made the assumption that all people with Down syndrome would hit it off as friends, which she likened to assuming two people would become bosom buddies because both wore glasses.

Asking people to see past her disability is a challenge Miss Carey faces every day.

"People take one look and then put her in a little box."

Mrs Carey said they should look beyond the disability to see the person with the same needs and desires as anyone else.

"She's Megan first, then she has Down syndrome."

Story Michele McPherson  Photo Mark Mckeown  BOP Times