What is the automatic release and how do you develop it?

The automatic release is the classical hunt seat hand position over a fence in which the rider's hands follow the horse's mouth through the jumping arc without resting on or pressing against the horse's neck — maintaining a soft, following contact from the bit to the elbow through the entire jump. It is called automatic because an experienced rider with a developed position performs the release without conscious thought, the hands automatically following the horse's movement as an integrated part of the jumping position rather than as a deliberate action taken during each fence. The automatic release contrasts with the crest release, in which the rider rests their knuckles on the horse's crest, and the long crest release, which extends the hands further up the neck — both of which are used by developing riders who need the security of the neck contact to prevent being left behind. Developing the automatic release requires first developing the following position and the independent leg that makes it possible — a rider who needs the reins for balance cannot give with the reins through the jump, so the automatic release can only develop after the position is secure enough to allow the hands to be completely independent. The specific development exercises include riding small fences with the hands held slightly away from the neck — off the neck but not dramatically released — to begin training the hands to follow without the neck as a support. Gradually increasing the fence height as the independent position develops allows the automatic release to develop progressively. Gridwork at low heights allows the horse to repeat the jumping arc many times in quick succession, giving the rider many opportunities to practice following with the hands in a low-intensity context. The feel of a correct automatic release — hands that are genuinely following the horse's mouth rather than either restricting or abandoning the contact — is the most useful guide for developing this quality, which is why lunge lessons with an experienced trainer who can observe and describe the release quality are valuable during this developmental phase.