What is the correct jumping position over a fence?

The correct jumping position over a fence represents the optimal alignment between horse and rider through the arc of the jump — a position that allows the rider to follow the horse's motion without interfering with its use of its back, neck, and hindquarters, while maintaining enough security and balance to land in control and prepared for what follows. As the horse takes off, the rider's weight drops into a stable, deep heel while the hip angle closes to follow the horse's neck and shoulder forward and upward — folding at the hip rather than rounding at the back or collapsing at the shoulder. The degree of hip angle closure depends on the size of the fence and the arc of the jump: a small fence requires less folding than a large oxer where the horse's arc carries its neck significantly forward and down. The lower leg remains stable under the rider's hip, with the heel acting as the anchor point of the position — a leg that swings backward or forward during the jump indicates that the leg is being used for balance rather than maintaining a position independent of the horse's motion. The release allows the horse's neck to use its full range of motion through the jumping arc, with the automatic release following the horse's mouth through the arc without resting on the neck. The eyes look up and ahead rather than down at the fence or the horse's neck — looking down causes the upper body to collapse and compromises the position. Through the arc, the rider's back remains quiet and following rather than arching or rounding, and the overall impression is of a rider in balance with the horse's movement rather than either ahead of it or behind it. On landing, the rider's position returns to three-point as the horse's feet touch the ground, with the upper body returning upright and the seat reconnecting with the saddle.