How do riders and parkour athletes handle high jumps?

Riders and parkour athletes handle high jumps by combining speed, body control, and safe landing technique rather than trying to “just leap higher.” In both cases, the goal is to reduce impact and keep balance on landing.

Riders

Riders who clear big jumps usually rely on:

• Approach speed and timing to hit the jump at the right angle.
• Stable body position so the bike or horse stays controlled in the air.
• Bent joints and soft absorption on landing to reduce shock.
  For high-jump style athletics, the landing area is also designed to cushion the fall with a crash mat.

Parkour athletes

Parkour athletes handle high jumps by:

• Landing on both feet when possible , with knees bent to absorb force.
• Rolling out of bigger drops to spread impact over more time and distance.
• Training progressively , starting with smaller jumps before attempting larger ones.

What makes it work

The main idea is to control the landing, not just the jump. Parkour advice often emphasizes that a smooth crouch or roll can make a big drop much safer by lowering the force on the body.

Safety note

High jumps can still cause serious injury if technique is poor, so these moves should only be practiced with proper training and safe equipment. High jump sports also use protective landing mats for this reason.

If you want, I can turn this into a shorter forum-style reply or a more detailed explanation.