Like all domesticated animals, horses require human guidance to keep from brushing against barbed wire, eating poisonous rocks, and galloping triumphantly into the ocean. Take the reins with today's Groupon: for $30, you get a one-hour horseback ride (a $60 value) at Eclipse Sporthorses in Archer.

Eclipse Sporthorses is a comprehensive equine facility on a quiet, expansive farm just outside Gainesville. Horseback lessons guide riders of all levels through the basics of horsemanship and allow ample horse-human interaction, making both bipedal and quadrupedal participants at ease before they set off on a relaxing gambol. An experienced instructor stays within hoof’s reach as riders learn tacking, grooming, and romping procedures. Owner Regina Esterman has cultivated a longstanding interest in animal care, earning her PhD in 2010, and she manages her horseshoed herd alongside trainer and instructor Jeff Broederdorf.