It's very Carolyn Resnick ish!!!
(I know you are a fan, I am too, have used quite a few of her ideas).
She will tell you to move a horse off it's spot of grazing (in a respect situation), but a new horse in a herd generally will get shadowed and grazed alongside always keeping an exact distance staying out the kick zone. As they get more accepted into the herd, they graze closer until they are allowed to share alongside.
We as humans can do exactly the same thing. At first there is usually the personal space issue, you move a meter in, the horse moves a meter away etc. But once it is clear to the horse that you are really there as a giver, not to grab the horse or make him move with psychological or physical pressure, he begins to relax and then all of a sudden starts to show interest in what you are doing. If you have a horse that is relaxed and likes people close it can be a good idea to have them graze at liberty too alongside the horse you want interaction with. Jealousy over food treats can sometimes bring the uncertain horse much closer!!!!!!
I walk just about daily with the herd of 10, my horse stands with. All but two will let me walk up to them without lifting their heads from grazing. The other two will approach for a treat, but will not be touched at liberty. However they are happy for me to sit very close and will continue to graze, they just don't want physical touching.
Virtually none of these horses will let the groom get near them at liberty. To them he is seen as a herder and someone who tacks them up and puts them to work. He approaches and they leave!!!!
He could just not understand how I can walk among them and they are not bothered and don't leave. Just last week I saw him with a bag of cut watermelon out with them in the mountain, and he proudly told me yesturday that my horse is now his friend!!!!!!
Please do start a diary and let us know how it goes......