WHEELCHAIR-bound Megan Robinson has beaten all the odds to win her first dressage competition with her beloved pony, Sixpence.

The gutsy teenager, who is also profoundly deaf, came away with the winner's rosette after beating 25 able-bodied competitors in the charity competition. Megan, 16, from Gribthorpe, near Bubwith, contracted a rare condition known as dystonia at the age of 11, and suffers from chronic muscle spasms which means she cannot control her limbs.

But an almost telepathic understanding with nine-year-old Sixpence helped Megan show a clean pair of hooves to the rest of the riders in the dressage at Cherry Meadow Farm, Selby. She scored a remarkable three nines out of 10, and was later congratulated by the judge for "an excellent test."

Her mother Jackie Robinson, speaking at their home at Manor Farm, Gribthorpe, said: "Megan is over the moon with her win.

"We have had Sixpence since she was born and trained her to respond to Megan's voice. They have an extremely close bond, which has also proved very therapeutic for Megan."

Megan has to take over 40 tablets a day to control her spasms, and her mum says it is her two ponies and young horse which have pulled her through.

Mrs Robinson said: "If she hadn't have had her ponies when she became ill, we would have had a very different child on our hands now.

"They kept her going through all the horrible treatments and terrible reactions to the drugs."

Megan contracted meningitis at the age of 18 months, and the dystonia condition diagnosed 10 years later could have been a residual illness.

"It was devastating for all of us. Within the space of two weeks we went from having a child who went swimming and to a gym club to one who needed a wheelchair," said Mrs Robinson.

"But she's a very determined girl, and if anyone deserves this winner's rosette it's Megan."

The Selby dressage competition, organised by Jackie Paler, raised £750 for cancer and leukaemia in children.

PICTURE: TALL IN THE SADDLE: Megan Robinson with her pony Sixpence and the rosette which she won in a dressage competition Picture: Garry Atkinson