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Chicago Teacher Seeking Indoor Horse Arena For School

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CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Chicago Public School teacher is among 15 teachers nationwide vying for a $100,000 grant from an insurance company, but she is going to need lots of online votes to win.

Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences teacher Maggie Kendall said she wants to build an indoor horse-riding arena at the school in the Mount Greenwood neighborhood. Her dream is to not only teach able-bodied students and adults how to ride horses, but to provide horse-riding therapy to young people and adults with physical, behavioral, and emotional problems -- including for veterans suffering from PTSD.

"We have students that have a hard time controlling their behavior, and we can teach them -- using the horse as a model -- what's appropriate," she said.

Kendall said horse-riding therapy can work wonders for some people who are bound to a wheelchair. She said they start out not being able to sit up, but gradually strengthen their core and backs and are able to sit erect. Horseback riding is helpful because the movement of a horse--to the person riding it-- mimics a person's walking motion.

The school already has an equestrian program, but it's limited to learning how to ride and care for a horse outside, and doesn't allow Kendall to offer the program year-round.

"We're severely limited, because we just don't have an indoor space," Kendall said. "Also, most of the students are beginners. So we need a safe, controlled environment."

Kendall said an indoor facility also would include a seating area for parents to watch their children ride.

To win the $100,000 grant from Farmers Insurance, Kendall and her "Raise the Barn Roof" proposal need online votes every day between now and November 30 at www.ThankAMillionTeachers.com

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