Does Your Horse Recognize When You Are On Your Cell Phone?
I recently spoke with someone who said that every time she gets on her cellphone, her dog and her horse leave her company. She asked if I had noticed this myself, and why does it happen?
The only answer I could give her at that point was this: Animals require that we be present with them. Connection requires your presence. And as nature would instruct me further, the very next morning, I discovered first-hand the disconnect caused by cellphones.
My horses Bella and Shadow always let me know when I am not present with them and they have let me know that on many occasions. I've written about them in the past, you can read these blogs below. But that morning I was walking toward Bella's stall, and I had the lead rope around my shoulder. I got a call from my brother, put the phone to my ear walked into Bella’s stall.
Bella did something she has not done in many, many years. She took a step away from me. I took a step toward her. I was paying attention, but I was also listening to my brother. And that was a call I felt I needed to take, as he's suffering with cancer, and recently had a full leg amputated. But the point is, I knew in that moment exactly what that woman had experienced: a disconnection caused by my not being present in the presence of my horse.
The fix? Stop multi-tasking. When you're talking on the telephone talk on the telephone. When you're letting your horse out let your horse out. Brain science has shown us that multi-tasking – a favorite habit of humans – reduces our ability to bring our best and full attention to whatever it is we’re working on. Thank goodness our animals remind us that hey, they're here, and that they require all of us. We will never achieve a full and true connection if we don’t bring our whole selves to the encounter. Humans love to make things complicated, but achieving a connection with your horse starts with putting down and turning off the cellphone, or whatever other distraction you’re fooling around with.
Try it! It really is as simple as that.
Linda & The Herd Connection
Enjoy our latest video with Shadow & Bella frolicking in the pasture.