Horses were once considered man’s best friend, but after the invention of the dog, the horse was rebranded as man’s eccentric, oat-obsessed uncle. Take a journey with the kindest of kinsmen with today's Groupon: for $30, you get a one-hour private horse-riding lesson (a $65 value) at Hunter's Haven Farm in Groveland.

Hunter's Haven Farm houses a full-service equestrian center to help budding buckaroos acquire the skills needed to properly care for and command a trusty steed. Students get a feel for the saddle and practice basic riding techniques with an emphasis on safety atop predictable horses that won’t end lessons by revealing they were a pegasus the entire time. The experienced instructors impart riding advice to absolute beginners and novice eventing riders, with kid-friendly coursework for children as young as 8 years old. Riders train in a well-equipped facility boasting cross-country fences, a galloping track, and indoor and outdoor riding areas for year-round lessons even during month-long blizzards cast by weather warlocks.