The horse and buggy was a popular method of early transportation, far surpassing the bug and buggy, which could barely move and was often destroyed by squeamish gunslingers. Saddle up with today’s Groupon to MacDonald’s Ranch in Scottsdale. Today’s Groupon is not valid November 23, 2011–November 27, 2011 and December 23, 2011–January 7, 2012. Choose between the following options:

• For $38, you get a two-hour horseback trail ride for one (up to a $76.51 value including tax).
• For $71, you get a two-hour horseback trail ride for two (up to a $153.02 value including tax).
  
  

Trail rides can be shortened to one hour at the request of customers.

A stableful of friendly steeds amble through 1,300 acres of Sonoran Desert landscape at MacDonald’s Ranch. Upon arrival, the ranch’s insightful and intrepid horsemen meticulously match each rider to a horse using an intricate algorithm involving riding experience, mood, and preference of english muffins or wheat toast. As one of the ranch’s friendly wranglers leads the way, groups of around seven horse handlers per guide blaze a trail down dusty, underexplored paths deep into the tranquil Sonoran Desert, getting close enough to converse with coyotes or pet native cacti.

Easy riding terrain makes the trip accessible to all levels of riders, and guides dispense useful tips on controlling equestrian companions. Riders should arrive for their outdoor adventure outfitted in jeans, closed-toe shoes or boots, and lots of removable layers to account for the desert’s unpredictable weather and ever-fluctuating fashion trends. Each group can include only one 5-year-old child, who rides behind the tour guide on his or her own horse.