I recall from one of the lessons where a man is trying to catch a horse and Monty tells him to remove the cap, or if it was sun glasses, (maybe someone else remembers it better) so the horse can see his eyes.
So I think if you have *sun* glasses on, you can loose effect, but not with ordinary, clear glasses.
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On a side note, years ago, when I still competed my SWB mare, she was terrified of a big Irish Cob who was mainly all white but both eyes were "hidden" behind two large dark spots. He truly looked ghostly! LOL
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His rider was an incredibly sweet person, so we always found ways to co-exist on the warm-up and around the competition grounds. Eventually, we got my horse so used to him by incremental advance and retreat (neither of us had heard of Monty back then) that the two horses at long last could stand next to one another on a prize ceremony. :)

If you are myopically challenged like myself you have to wear glasses. The important this is that they are clear. I usually wear photo lenses so they automatically go dark but when I am around horses I have a clear pair which I wear even if they know me well.

Monty' comment on this is that sunglasses look like flies or similar to a horse and as they communicate visually it is important they can see your eyes clearly.

I am an Equine Touch Practitioner and therefore meet lots of horses for the first time and I always take my clear glasses so I know they can see me.

Hope that helps. As mentioned above there is a lesson which does comment on this point. It is not specifically about sun glasses it is actually about getting the horse to catch you. The gentleman on the video goes into the paddock but is wearing sun glasses and this is where Monty suggests things would have gone better without the sunglasses.

Cheers... i havent been wearing sunglasses just normal ones. I was concerned that sometimes the glare might bounce off... thankyou so much for your time . Naomi

I think it's a really interesting and valid question Naomi; you can get anti reflective coating for your glasses which I think is very useful; it stops glare and stops others and horses seeing a reflection of themselves in your glasses.
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Like others I never wear my sun glasses when I work with them. Note for all you dog owners :-); as a dog trainer I have observed that sunglasses are a bit no no for dogs too.

I've worn glasses my entire life (started wearing them at two, actually) and I have never had problems with the way my horses perceive me as Leader. Most of join up is body language and energy manipulation. I really don't see it having an effect, but maybe that's just my experience with glasses. :)

Hi Naomi and all,
In my experience it does affect Join-up, but only slightly...It is easier for the horse to be able to see your eyes, instead of your clear glasses. But since most of us don't have much of a choice, contactlenses not being an alternative for me, we'll have to deal with it as it is. Please remember that the direction of your eyes is what matters to the horse and the intention of your glance. I guess this is what makes the difference and not what we're wearing. "Eyes on eyes" means you have a direct focus, this is what the horse sees and senses from your whole body. When you become passive in the process of Join-up, you'll have soft eyes and your whole body is rounder.
Here's where the difference is no longer important.
What you could do is stand in front of a mirror and try out the difference, you'll feel and see that it's not only "eyes" that send away or invite in.
Miriam