This is partly true, they can't see the fence as they are actually jumping it! The blind spot directly in front of them is a cone about 3-4 feet long, and the ideal take-off point for a jump is around 4-6 feet in front of the obstacle, so right on the edge of that blind spot. But the exact position of that cone varies with the horse's head position, so if you look at the whole phase of a jump (approach, take off, flight, landing) they will change the height and angle of their head to put the obstacle into their field of vision at the most important points in the run up.
As they approach the fence from a distance they will raise their head so that it is clear in their binocular vision, where they can properly judge the distance and height. Then as they reach the take-off point, the obstacle disappears from view and they lower their head. While they're in the air they should have a rounded arch to their back, which both engages their core so they can raise their centre of mass to clear the jump, but also angles their head slightly further down so they can see the landing point.
Pics of me and my good chonky boy below show the difference, photo one we're cantering across the field heading towards a jump in the distance; head is raised slightly, nose forward in front of the vertical, focus point is far distant, he knows where that jump is and he's taking me to it:
Photo two he's reached a jump, he already knows where it is and how high it is because he made all those judgements well in advance, he's an overachiever so he's jumped it with an extra foot of clearance; head is lowered, back rounded, nose back on the vertical, focus point is short distance so he can see where he's landing:
My focus point on the other hand is straight ahead, looking for the next jump so that as soon as he lands I can pick his focus up and point him towards his next obstacle. Once we reach the take off point neither of us are looking at the thing we're jumping anymore, we're already thinking about what happens next.
And to prove it's not me putting his head in that position, here he is a few years later free jumping, same body shape and head position:
Also anyone saying horses don't look straight ahead, look at this absolute muppet and tell me he's not looking at me
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