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I don't have the attention span to have a real conversation while working a horse. I would get lost in what I was saying because I would start concentrating on what my horse was doing. And I don't know how you could even do it unless you had a hands-free thingy. Which I used to, but I lost crying
If I'm not riding in a lesson or when there's lots of people around, I'll keep my phone on my hip just in case. I used to always ride with my phone on, but it went off during a lesson once while I was working on canter half-passes. Thankfully, my horse didn't react, but my trainer teased me about it for weeks, because I couldn't silence it, I was too busy riding my unruly beast of a horse, so the ringtone just accompanied us for the rest of the exercise. And I think the person tried to call me twice stressed
Usually if my phone rings while I'm riding, if I'm in a place where I can stop, I'll come back to the walk and give my horse a break while I answer it. If it's going to be a long conversation, I'll usually ask the person to call me back later, when I'm not on a horse. If it's something really important that I need to write down, I'll dismount and go back to the barn. But for the most part, I can't even hold a conversation with someone on the side of the ring while I'm working, let alone on my phone!

wow. i've actually never seen that. probably cause my barn probably has rules against it. i dunno. i can't imagine talking on the phone and riding...i can barely talk on teh phone and walk! hahaha. it be unfair to the horse though. i don't really like it when i see people walking their dogs and talking on the phone. cause the poor dog isn't getting any attention. but then again, its ok cause people like to talk i guess.

the only time i have talked on the phone and rode was when i was sitting on dakota in teh middle of the ring watching my friend ride, and my mom called about my new saddle smile

For a while my trainer had me sing while riding, but that was because I would concentrate too much on riding and forget to breathe- idiotic I know, but that's how I was.
At my job last summer we were supposed to have our cellphones on us at all times (which bugged me but what could I do.) Regardless, if I needed to call someone because of an emergency. I came to a stop. Even when warming up, I only talk if I'm trotting or less. I'm not a big gabber but in my old lesson group if we were warming up we'd catch up a bit and then focus. My current trainer tries to keep me talking or I fall back into my horrible habit of freezing my joints and "posing".
On trail rides at my camp I'm supposed to talk to the guests- keeps them from doing stupid things like falling asleep or eating the trees. Although those trail rides are walk only and it's not like those people actually have any say.

Though have actual conversations is just unsafe.

hahaha i do the same thing! i do it while i'm tacking up too, but then people think i'm nuts cause i'm totally talking to myself in teh tack room haha. but i have the same problem some one else metioned a while back about thinking too much about riding haha. i talk to the horse to unfocus too haha. dakota was the funnest to talk to cause he and i had such a bond that i think he listened lol. benson was great becuase i didn't have to talk. he could read my mind X-D

I always keep my aunt's cell phone with me when I ride. >< I have to be able to call for a ride when I'm done working with Dakota, but it's always either off or on vibrate when I ride. If I do have to make a call while I'm riding, I just slow down to a walk and keep it short. People talking and riding doesn't bother me much, I suppose I'm just used to it. Everybody I know that actually does talk and ride slows their horse down first. To me it's just a matter of common sense. If you're horse is misbehaving, then shut up and ride. If you can keep them at a calm walk and neck rein, talking is fine, as long as you can multitask well enough to still pay attention to your horse. If not, well, better keep your cell on to call for your ambulance when the horse dumps you. neutral

Mmm.. I have my cell on vibrate like always. Lol, but when I'm riding, usually I text all my friends and tell them when they can text/call me and expect a reply or expect me to pick up. Of course, I'm a hunter/jumper mainly, because my horse refuses to do most dressage figures, and when my trainer wants dressage done, I have to use one of the stable horses or my friends horse, but back to the point: Because I usually jump and I am usually trotting or cantering around the ring unless I'm cooling off or warming up or giving my Moon a break, I don't feel the vibration because I am constantly moving, sorta....