Meet Our Remarkable Team

Hi, I'm Jessica and I am the Director and Head Instructor at Banbury Cross TEC. I have been an animal lover for my entire life, with a special spot in my heart for horses. I have always found animals to be very rewarding and understanding, as well as some of my best friends. I knew growing up that I wanted to somehow combine my love for animals with my desire to help people. After earning my BS in Behavioral Psychology from Western Michigan University, I went on to pursue my certification as a therapeutic riding instructor through PATH International. In 2007, I joined the staff here, and could not be happier about my decision. I am fortunate to work with truly inspiring participants who are kind enough to involve me in part of their journey. I have the pleasure of watching our 12 phenomenal program horses change lives on a daily basis. In addition to being a certified therapeutic riding instructor with PATH, I am also certified as an Equine Specialist through EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Association) and serve as the Michigan State Chair for PATH International's Region 4 Leadership Team.   Outside of my professional life, I have a small hobby farm which includes our dog & 2 cats, 2 horses, 3 goats, and 17 chickens, plus a large garden. My husband and I enjoy spending our free time with our three daughters, hiking, horseback riding, dirt biking and playing on the farm.

I'm Jessica Leroux, (or Jess 2 as I am often referred to at the farm). I have worked in therapeutic riding programs from the age of 12 and continued to work in this industry through high school and into college. I always knew from childhood that I wanted to work with people and horses, and after obtaining my PATH certification in 2014, I was able to do just that. I have so loved watching my students reach their goals, and playing a small part in their continued growth. I am always excited about watching my participants gain independence and build a strong relationship with their horse. I grew up an avid equestrian, riding hunter jumpers throughout my childhood, and have continued to ride as an adult. I love working with the Banbury program horses, helping to keep them in shape and active. When I'm not at the barn I work as a Clinical Coordinator for a ABA Program for children with Autism. I have a wonderful husband named Blair, he and I are proud parents to a beautiful baby boy.

My name is Kelly Barry.  I am a lifelong horsewoman working in the field of horse training since the mid 1990s. I specialize in Natural Horsemanship, a type pf training that uses prey animal psychology to help people have optimal communication with their horse (regardless what discipline they practice). I teach lessons five days a week, and I own Clearpath Transformational Coaching, a empowerment coaching practice utilizing cutting edge modalities to enhance client's personal growth. My background in therapeutic riding started in 2008 when a client asked me to help her develop a therapeutic riding program using Natural Horsemanship in Goodrich, MI. Our program, Amazing Wings ran for 10 years, and it was truly wonderful. Jessica Moore helped us start our program, and I have the upmost respect for her. I am a PATH Certified Equine Specialist in Mental Health, as well as a Certified Therapeutic Riding Instructor. After Amazing Wings closed in 2016, Jessica Moore asked me to teach at  Banbury Cross, and I was honored to join her team. I feel grateful to be part of this wonderful organization, and happy to share my unique talents with the students and volunteers at Banbury Cross. My goal is to help people confidently create the life of their dreams, being on the Banbury Cross staff gives me another avenue to carry out that mission.

Hello! My name is Kim Martus and I am thrilled to be a part of the Banbury Cross Therapeutic Equestrian Center staff.  It was over 20 years ago when I first volunteered at Banbury Cross. The therapeutic riding participants showed such strength and joy while riding, and the physical gain they made during each riding session was inspiring.  This experience was the motivation to continue my education and become an occupational therapist. Since becoming an OT in 2004, I have practiced at pediatric outpatient therapy clinics and schools, and it has been a career filled with gratification and enjoyment.  I am currently employed as an OT at Wing Lake Developmental Center, a center-based school program for students with severe multiple impairments. Therapeutic riding remains one of the most effective treatment strategies I have utilized to normalize tone, increase strength, increase communication, and improve function during daily activities for riders with neurological deficits. It gives me much joy and gratefulness to be a PATH certified instructor at Banbury Cross, because it combines a passion for working with people that have special needs with a love for horses.​ In personal life, I have been a lifetime animal lover and avid equestrian.  My youth was spent competing in the hunter/jumper arena and teaching riding lessons.  My husband Matt, 2 beautiful sons Jack & Cooper, and dog Willie, thankfully support my love of horses and career path.  After having children, another new endeavor began for me in the Western horse world.  My quarter horse, Woody, and I have been having a blast learning to work cattle. I am looking forward to many years at Banbury Cross helping others to grow their love of horses and riding skills too!

Lisa McCormack. I started out as a volunteer at Banbury Cross and quickly decided to become an instructor. It seemed like a really good way to combine my physical therapy background and my love of horses. I became a certified therapeutic riding instructor at Cheff Center in 2008 and have been working at Banbury since then. I love seeing how horses can make a physical, cognitive, social or recreational difference in a person’s life!  I have an undergrad degree in psychology from Michigan State University (Go Green!) and went on to get a physical therapy degree from Ohio University in 1990. As a physical therapist, I have primarily treated adult inpatient rehab clients.  My husband and I are proud parents of a son and a daughter. My daughter and I own a bay Paint gelding, Indy, who is boarded at Banbury. I have ridden and owned horses for most of my life. Through my daughter, I have been involved in Pony Club locally and regionally since 2010.

Briahna Reis. I have been riding horses since I was 6 years old and I have been fortunate enough to share this journey with many different wonderful horses along the way. I have competed in Eventing, Dressage, and Barrel Racing shows and participated on my high school equestrian team. I have always loved the amazing bond shared between horse and ride and wanted to share that with others, which is what led me to become a therapeutic riding instructor. I started volunteering at Banbury Cross in September 2009 and instantly fell in love with the program, as I was seeing that bond between horse and rider happening first hand. I received my therapeutic riding instructor certification in September 2018 and I am so excited to help more riders, who share the love for horses like I do, progress in their riding abilities.  When I am not teaching classes at Banbury Cross, I enjoy riding my 3 personal horses, Chrome, Ollie, and Cash. Chrome and I are currently training to begin showing at barrel shows, in the Spring, and look forward to what the future holds! Outside of classes, you may see me around because I live onsite (with my dogs, Josie & Buddy) and complete many of the tasks associated with being the barn manager.

Nathan Jerome. My love of horses and beautiful horse farms blossomed at the age of 13 when my family moved north of Metamora into the Lapeer area. Spending time with so many new friends who were horse owners fed my passion for horses and I was eventually able to own my own horse, Joe. My involvement with Banbury Cross began in July of 2012 when I started volunteering for classes and I soon realized that Banbury was a place I wanted to be for years to come. My eagerness to do whatever I could around the farm eventually led me to my current position as Facility Manager and a member of an amazing staff of individuals. It makes me so happy to share the love of horses with our riders and see firsthand what amazing therapists our program horses truly are in helping our riders. I’m always amazed at the positive affect horses have on our lives. When I’m not working around the farm I love to grab my camera and head to the fields or drive around the Metamora countryside photographing horses and the farms they live on.