First your stirrups need to be the right length. When your leg is relaxed the stirrup iron should lay right at your ankle bone. For some, jumping position is easier when the stirrups are a hole shorter than on the flat.
Next you need to keep your heels placed down. Don't jam your heel down, simply lift your toe. If you push to far down in your heel your legs will swing forward and unbalance you. Your heels are your main source of balance. your toes should be pointing towards the horses head. if you are wearing spurs you don't want them constantly poking the horses side.
As you approach the jump make sure to keep the legs gently against your horses side, this will keep the momentum and increase your chance of run outs or refusals.
Yours hands should move with the neck so you don't jab your horse in the mouth. The reins shouldn't be thrown up their neck either, this could throw them off balance. If you have trouble with your hands moving to much and are worried about catching your horse in the mouth you can grab some of their mane to start off.
You want your eyes kept straight to, over, and after the jump. If you drop your eyes this can shift you body weight and unbalance the horse. they might add an extra stride or chip. Also if your drop your eyes the horses can feel you looking at it and might thing it is scary and stop.
You want to make sure you are jumping with your horse not ahead of them or to late. this is also known as jumping for your horse. Jumping ahead of the horse can cause the riders leg to slip back, because the riders weight is in front of the leg. Your leg should be under neath your body.
Your body should be slightly tilted towards the horses neck. Your hip bones should be still under you and just tilted a tiny bit to allow your body to follow the horse. Your seat should always be over the saddle even when your over the jump.
Give a horse what he needs and he will give you his heart in return.
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