Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Advanced Horsemanship (Face-to-Face)

AGSC 3760-01

Course: AGSC 3760-01
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ASNS
CRN: 30039

Course Description

Advanced riding lab course focusing on equine behavior and learning. Development of sound riding and training practices will be stressed. Two 1 and 1/2 hour sessions required per week. May be repeated twice for credit. For safety of horse and rider, there is a rider weight limit of 250 pounds. (Rider may also be required to pass a physical ability test at the discretion of the instructor). Horse boarding available. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): AGSC 2760 and instructor permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C- Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 4

Required Texts

The Art of Horsemanship. Xenophon.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the semester, you should be able to:

1.      Get horse in psychological state of mind ready for training.  

2.      Define and refine your cueing techniques.   

3.      Ride in a balanced seat, and give consistent cues.

4.      Get horse to position his/her feet where and how you want them when you are on the ground and when you are riding.

5.      Recognize subtle changes and attempts that horse makes to do what you have asked.

6.      Further develop and describe your training philosophy, mentally and in writing.     

Course Requirements

CLASS JOURNAL: A journal with a summary of each week’s class will be required at the end of the semester.  The journal makes up a considerable portion of your grade (20%), so do a good job.  Describe what was discussed and what we worked on during each class period, what you learned, what was accomplished, what wasn’t accomplished, your thoughts on the week’s class experience, etc.  Make the journal an evaluation of the class and your own riding and training.  It must be typed and submitted via email as a PDF file by Wednesday December 4, 2025.  Keep it up to date and well organized.  When grading the journal, I will use the following rubric:

      Component of Journal                Percent of Journal Grade 

§  Completeness                                50%

§  What we talked about                     5%

§  What we did                                 10%

§  What you learned                          15%

§  What you thought                         15%

§  Neatness and organization              5%

I would expect that each day’s entry will take up at least ½ page, and usually more.  This is a place to further develop and explain your own philosophy of horse training.  Don’t just report on what we did or discussed.  Develop your own thoughts on each class period.  

o   I will meet with each of you individually during the semester so that we may personally evaluate and discuss your training and equitation.  

·         FFA HORSE JUDGING CONTEST: S.U.U. sponsors an FFA horse judging contest on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.  You will be expected to help with the contest as a part of this class.  This will require time outside of regularly scheduled class to prepare for the contest, and attendance/performance at the contest.  

·         The main focus of this class will be on equine behavior and how it affects our training, riding, and approach to the horse.  Most of the class time will be spent working with horses; however there will be a variety of other required activities possible, including lectures, demonstrations, class discussions, videos, field trips and guest lecturers.  Time will be spent in the classroom, arena, round pen, and elsewhere as deemed appropriate.  

·         Appropriate clothing and footwear is required for all riding.  No riding may be undertaken in clothing or footwear considered by the instructor to be unsafe, or unsuitable.  

·         This is an outdoor course and as such is subject to the weather.  No riding will be undertaken in conditions considered by the instructor to be unsafe.  Cold and/or wet weather may dictate the need for warm clothing.

·         Cell phones are a distraction to the horses and other riders.  Please do not carry a cell phone during class time.

·         Spurs may be worn with instructor’s permission.  

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

·         No dogs are allowed to run free at the farm.

·         Please don’t invite friends or family to come watch the class. It is a distraction

·         Horse boarding is available at the university farm.  

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


Course Outline

An advanced riding course focusing on equine behavior and learning.  Development of sound riding and training practices will be stressed.  Course may be repeated twice for credit.

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

Periodic assignments will be given during the semester.  Unless otherwise instructed, written assignments must be submitted as WORD files and emailed to me.  Class assignments should be submitted on specified due dates.  For each day an assignment is late the grade may be lowered by 50%.

Attendance Policy

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.

Each absence, regardless of the reason, will result in a loss of points.  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.  

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

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.