Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Horsemanship I (Face-to-Face)

AGSC 1750-05

Course: AGSC 1750-05
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ASNS
CRN: 30245

Course Description

A basic lab course in riding and handling of horses. An understanding of horse behavior and safe conduct around horses are central to the course. Students will be introduced to the fundamentals of riding, handling, and grooming, as well as becoming familiar with the parts of the horse, common tack, and grooming equipment. Class may be repeated for credit. 

Required Texts

None.

Learning Outcomes

Course Objectives
  • Approach, catch, and lead a horse correctly and safely
  • Demonstrate fundamental level grooming procedures including cleaning the feet
  • Exhibit familiarity with western equipment by tacking up horse and adjusting stirrups properly
  • Demonstrate correct mount and dismount
  • Show basics of western riding position
  • Demonstrate fundamentals of controlling the horse
    • Apply basic steering aids
    • Apply basic stopping aids
    • Apply basic backing aids
    • Show understanding of basic riding arena etiquette

Course Requirements

Student Information Sheet

Assignment on Canvas used for agriculture department. Due Thursday, September 4th.

Quizzes

Three quizzes will be given during the semester. Quizzes will be announced the week before, are on the syllabus, and are shown in Canvas. All quizzes are in person at the beginning of class. If you are late for a quiz, you will not be able to make it up. If you are absent on the day a quiz is given, you must make arrangements with the instructor before the next class period to have any chance of making it up. Make-up quizzes will only be given at the instructor’s discretion.

Final Exam

The progress of your riding will be evaluated throughout the semester. There is not a riding final. Your final will be a 2-part written exam. The first part will be in person the last week of class. It will consist of the parts of the horse, saddle, and bridle. The second part will be online during finals week. It will consist of the basics that we have learned in the class, questions about riding, and what you have learned in this class. For late submissions, a 20% deduction will be applied.

Course Requirements / Expectations

Hard soled shoes with a considerable heel will be required for all riding, and riding boots are recommended. No sandals, soft athletic shoes, or thick-soled shoes are allowed. You will not be allowed to ride in boots or shoes considered unsafe by the instructor. You will also be required to wear long pants during all class periods. Students will not be allowed to ride with improper footwear, pants or any other unsafe clothing, at the discretion of the instructor. Inability to ride because of unsuitable dress or footwear will result in an absence.

Cell phones are a distraction to the horses and other riders. Please do not carry a cell phone during class time. Additionally, I would recommend that you don’t carry a wallet, keys, or valuables when riding.

Most of the time in this class will be spent riding or working directly with the animals, however there may also be required lectures, demonstrations, videos, and/or guest lecturers. Riding will include time in the arena as well as trail riding and other work as deemed appropriate.

This is an outdoor course and as such is subject to the weather. Class will be held each week, unless the instructor lets you know beforehand. There will be no riding in conditions considered to be unsafe by the instructor. Throughout the semester cold and/or wet weather may dictate the need for warm clothing.

Riding helmets are available in the tack shed for student use.

Spurs may be worn with instructor’s permission.

No dogs are allowed to run free at the farm.

Please don’t expect to come to the farm and interact with the horses during non-class times.

Horse boarding is available at the university farm.

Class information including the syllabus, assignments, handouts, etc. will be available on Canvas. Please use my email or phone to contact me.

If you plan to take Horse 2 and Horse 3, remember that Horse 3 is only taught fall semester. You will need to take Horse 2 beforehand, so plan accordingly. SUU offers an Associate’s Degree in Equine Studies for those interested. If you are interested in the Equine Degree, please contact Lee Wood for more information.

SUU has an Agriculture Club for all interested students (not just Ag majors). The club provides a chance to meet people, serve in the community, participate in activities, and just have fun. Club meetings are Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in SC 114.

Grading
Progress200
Horsemanship (groundwork)150
Horsemanship (equitation)150
Quizzes (written/oral)100
Attitude and cooperation100
Care of equipment and facilities50
Attendance and participation150
Final Exam100
Total1000 Points

Course Outline

Projected Schedule
Week of:Week of:
25-Aug | Intro, syllabus, video13-Oct | Sitting the trot
1-Sep | Lecture & demo, safety, horse psychology20-Oct | Riding outside the arena
8-Sep | Catching and tacking up27-Oct | Sitting and posting trot QUIZ 3
15-Sep | Basic seat, hands, reining3-Nov | Riding outside the arena
22-Sep | Introduction to trotting QUIZ 110-Nov | Sitting/posting trot, intro to lope
29-Sep | Timing and balance, intro to posting trot17-Nov | Sitting/posting trot, loping
6-Oct | Riding outside the arena QUIZ 21-Dec | Riding the lope FINAL PART 1

Attendance Policy

Attendance
Attendance is essential to success in this course. There are no makeup sessions, nor can you attend another section. Because there are few notes to take, learning depends on participation and the experience gained during class time. You cannot learn new information, develop as a rider, or contribute to the class if you are not in class! Because of this, attendance and participation will be a major component in grading. Points will be deducted from the total points possible, not just attendance points.
Each absence, regardless of the reason, will result in a loss of points. You will lose points if you are not in class. The first absence will result in a loss of 30 points, the second absence another 60 points, the third absence another 90 points, and every absence thereafter will result in a deduction of 100 points.
Being on time is also important to the class. Because horses need to be caught and prepared for riding, being late, for whatever reason, delays the entire class. For this reason, being late or leaving early will lower your grade. Being fifteen or more minutes late will constitute an absence.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Late Work & Make-up Quizzes

If you are late for a quiz, you will not be able to make it up. If you are absent on the day a quiz is given, you must make arrangements with the instructor before the next class period to have any chance of making it up. Make-up quizzes will only be given at the instructor’s discretion.

For late submissions of final exam assignments or other graded work, a 20% deduction will be applied.

Custom

Course Context
Course: AGSC 1750
Title: Horsemanship I (Face-to-Face)
Section Times: Section 3: Thursday 2:00-3:30; Section 4: Wednesday 10:00-11:30; Section 5: Wednesday 12:00-1:30; Section 6: Thursday 10:00-11:30; Section 7: Thursday 12:00-1:30; Section 11: Wednesday 4:00-5:30
Semester: Fall Semester, 2025
Instructor Information
Instructor: Dalley Strong
Phone: 435-632-2969
Email: dalleystrong@suu.edu
Office Hours: By appointment
Additional Policies
  • Disclaimer Statement: Information contained in this syllabus, other than grade and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
  • Treatment of Live Animals: In this course, we will use and may conduct experiments using live animals. These animals are to be treated with respect at all times. In addition, any vertebrate animal used in this course is covered by protocols and permits under the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). IACUC has strict requirements for the ethical care and use of animals in research and educational settings. Guidelines for animal care set forth by IACUC will be followed at all times. Failure to comply with IACUC guidelines will result in a failing grade for the class and/or research project. Students do not have the authority to make decisions regarding proper animal care and use. All decisions should be made in conjunction with the instructor.
  • Utah Equine Liability Statute Warning: Under Utah law, an equine professional is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities pursuant to the laws of the State of Utah.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.