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 $72, you get an introductory lesson, the meadows-and-woods trail ride (a $130 value), and a picnic lunch (a $15 value) for two at Equestrian Ridge Farm in New Plymouth (a $145 total value).

Equestrian Ridge Farm—led by instructor and trainer Jackie Stewart, who has four decades worth of horsey experience—claims 200 acres of meadows, wooded riding trails, and professional horse-training facilities in the scenic Hocking Hills region of Vinton County. Beginning trotters take to the farm’s on-site arena for an introductory lesson that’s customized to each client’s comfort and skill level, covering such equine essentials as basic riding techniques, commands, and introductory calculus. Led by a seasoned rein master, the approximately 90-minute meadows-and-woods trail ride alternates between walking, trotting, and fox-trotting as riders fill their lungs with fresh air and treat retinas to the area’s placid pastoral landscapes. Ideal for saddle-sitters of all stripes, trail rides grant each guest the unparalleled opportunity of riding and guiding their own well-trained mount. Unpack and indulge in a picnic basket brimming with sandwiches, chips, and drinks before remounting steeds for a commemorative photo that will soon find its way to riders' email inboxes for easy printing and Facebook flaunting.