Smiles abounded, chests puffed out with pride and hearts swelled with joy during the annual Horse Show and Open House held Saturday at Banbury Cross Therapeutic Equestrian Center in Metamora Township.

“It’s a wonderful way for our riders to celebrate what they’ve been working on all year (long) and show off to their family and friends,” said Banbury Executive Director Jessica Moore.

Founded in 1991, Banbury Cross uses therapeutic horseback riding to help students with special needs and challenges grow physically, cognitively, emotionally, spiritually, educationally and socially. The organization often works with students from the Oxford school district.

A total of 63 riders, 11 horses and about 40 volunteers participated in the show. Riders ranged in age from 3 to mid-50s.

Planning and practice for the show begins in the spring.

“(Students) definitely look forward to it for months,” Moore said.

According to Moore, the show gives students “a huge confidence boost” as demonstrate in front of a crowd everything they’ve learned at Banbury Cross, including basic dressage patterns and using voice commands and rein aids to get their horses to walk, trot, cantor and stop. At the end of their performance in the outdoor arena, each rider was presented with a certificate and gold medal to acknowledge their accomplishments.

“The smiles that we see on this day from riders, volunteers and parents (are) priceless,” Moore said.

Moore’s favorite part of the event is watching how students react to having Banbury’s horses dressed up to fit each year’s theme.

This year, the theme was Disney characters. “It’s just so much fun to see their faces when they see their usual horse dressed up like Mickey (Mouse) or Tinkerbell,” Moore said.

Oxford resident Matt Smith felt an “overwhelming sense of pride” and “pure joy” watching his 4-year-old son Jack riding around the arena. “He was the only person in the world at that moment,” he said.

Jack’s mom, Michelle Smith, agreed that it was an “extremely emotional” experience.

“I never pictured him up there doing something like that,” she said. “It was awesome.”

Jack was diagnosed with autism shortly before he turned 3. He goes to Banbury Cross to improve his posture and motor skills, build his social skills, boost his self-esteem and sharpen his skills when it comes to listening and following directions.

“One of the things kids with autism have a problem with is low muscle tone. (Horseback riding) helps with posture and core (strength),” Matt explained. “(Jack is) doing a good job sitting straight up. His overall posture has really improved.”

“He’s come so far,” Matt said. “To see him accomplish the things that he’s accomplished . . . We were originally told that he was (going to be) nonverbal and now, he’s talking like his brothers. I attribute that to everybody that’s touched Jack’s life, from the doctors to Banbury to his brothers (and other) family members to the good Lord.”

Michelle said Jack’s weekly visits to Banbury Cross are his “special time to shine” and the benefits of this to his self-esteem are evident.

“He socializes more with people now. He sits up more. He speaks to people . . . He’s improved in so many different ways,” she said.

Banbury’s fall session, which runs for 11 weeks, begins the week after Labor Day.

“We are full as far as riders go, but we are still looking for volunteers for the session,” Moore noted.

To learn more about Banbury Cross and its mission, visit www.banburycrosstec.org or call (248) 628-7433.