Locking Eyes With Your Horse

This is something I've never been able to do. I keep hearing from TV trainers and everyday trainers that you need to catch your horse's 'eye' and you'll have some sort of power over him.

To this day, my horses didn't read the book or watch that program. Catching their eye so I can catch them seems to make them want to move away from me. I have far greater luck when I want to catch someone who's loose in a corral by walking up to his point of shoulder (the lower end of his scapula that is forward pointing) and putting the lead around his neck, then putting on the halter.

Of course, my horses know that when I walk around with a halter and lead, they better plant it and wait for me to grab 'em. I don't hold with a horse walking off from me and I've been known to walk a horse down (that means following at a walk till the horse stops and faces you, basically giving in) for several hours and then we don't have that problem again. Ever. But it all goes back to walking up to the shoulder, not catching their eyes and locking with them.

They know I'm there and what I want and do keep a bit of eye on me while I'm fooling around them or around the barn. I do want them to know I'm around and where I am but I don't want in their face and be threatening.

If this works for you, then by all means, go for it. I don't get it... :-)