Hang up and drive, horse doc

Many equine veterinarians are livin' the life of the road warrior. You're on the open road and on your phone: taking calls, rescheduling appointments, and putting out fires back at the ranch. You know it's a little bit dangerous, but nothing bad will happen.

Maybe.

But while safety-minded activists and legislators coast to coast are trying to outlaw the dangerous practice of driving and talking on the cell phone, a pair of psychologists from the University of Utah have proven the existence of some of our generation's most impressive minds: supertaskers.

This minuscule 2.5 percent of a 200-person sample group was able to drive in a simulator while taking a test that required close listening-the same listening required in an active conversation over the phone. And they weren't distracted at all. Of course, the other 195 people in the study were dangers to themselves and others, but perhaps you're one of the few, the lucky, the supertaskers.

Not so fast, self-professed supertasker. Another recent study found that those who say they're great multitaskers are more likely to be poor multitaskers.

So unless you're one of those lucky supertaskers-and you probably aren't-think twice before roaring down the dirt road, cell phone in one hand and sandwich in the other. Just sayin'. You never know when something big'll cross your path-dog, cow, or kid.