Pioneering equine excellence

Set in 350 acres of rolling Powys countryside lies the Victorian-built Leighton Farm, now referred to as Yorton Farm and owned by CLA members James and Jean Potter.

Known as the producer of some of the best National Hunt racehorses in Europe, Yorton Farm has been transformed into an innovative and forward-thinking stud, operated by David Futter and his wife and onsite vet Birte Bauer.

Combining state of the art facilities with plenty of turn out pasture, the site can easily welcome up to 300 visiting mares during covering season, making it one of the fastest growing stud farms in the country.

Yorton isn’t just producing exceptional racehorses, it’s shaping the future of equine breeding through progressive practices and a commitment to excellent animal husbandry that resonates across the industry.

From the outset, Yorton’s foundations were built on progressive thinking. Originally a model farm in the 1850s, the site adopted rational farming methods and science-based techniques including the use of ‘indoor’ animal husbandry and fodder storage. Remarkably forward-thinking for its time.

After the Potter family’s purchase of the farm in 2013, the buildings have been tastefully transformed and restored over the last decade, with many of the Grade 1-listed buildings being converted, all keeping in mind the highest possible standards of equine care.

David has not come from a traditional equestrian or agricultural background, but from a young age he was driven by a passion for working with horses. He secured his first role at a local yard, where he spent his days mucking out and taking on a range of general duties. From there, his commitment and curiosity grew, allowing him to work his way up and absorb as much knowledge as possible along the way.

That passion runs in the family with David’s youngest son, Riley, now actively involved in the day-to-day running of the business. His eldest son Lester is spreading his wings having learned the ropes at home and gained experience in training racehorses, making it a real family affair.

There’s rarely any downtime at Yorton. The stud currently has four stallions standing: the Irish-bred, Postponed and Gentlewave; the German-bred, Ito and the latest addition with thanks to Dai Walters and family, Cracksman – the highest-rated son of Frankel and sire of world champion Ace Impact.

Between January and June, Yorton breed between 80 and 100 foals, with mares covered from February onwards. Having Birte as the vet on-site means quick decisions can be made when needed, often saving lives.

Today, the team at Yorton operates like a close-knit family. Everyone mucks in, and each person has a genuine connection to the horses on site, often with their own favourites. This shared passion and collaborative spirit underpin the success of the stud and its reputation.

“Every horse is treated like part of the family, a philosophy that runs through every aspect of Yorton’s operations,” says David.

I would not have done Yorton justice if I didn’t mention the Goffs Yorton Sale – a collaboration which is the brainchild of David, who with support from Birte was looking at new and innovative ways to move the stud forward and expand the business further.

“I wanted to give buyers in the UK and Ireland the opportunity to get horses into training earlier, a concept which is already very popular in France,” says David.

Founded in 2019, the Goffs Yorton Sale was bought to life offering yearling and two-year-old store horses. It has grown from strength to strength, attracting owners and trainers who travel from across Europe to view and buy potential future winners.

One particular stand-out year for the sale was the Goffs November Point-to-Point sale in 2020. There were Covid19 restrictions in place but the sale was allowed to go ahead and one particular horse, Jonbon, sold for £570,000. Purchased by JP McManus, he was sent to be trained by top British trainer Nicky Henderson and today is a highly successful racehorse, having amassed more than £1.38m in prize money.

Having had a break in 2024 to allow for a larger, higher quality draft of horses to be assembled, the sale returned this September and saw one gelding sell for £105,000.

Crunching the numbers prior to the sale, David said: “We’ve sold 193 lots in the first five sales and 136 have run, or 70 per cent.

“I think that’s pretty good, especially when you consider that includes some horses who were sold as yearlings in 2023, and are therefore still only just three.

“Out of those 136 runners, 68 have won, at a strike-rate of bang on 50 per cent. That includes 10 black-type performers and two Grade 1 winners, in Inthepocket and Redemption Day.”

Expanding the sale further, Yorton offers bespoke after sale packages, allowing the horses to remain on the farm under expert care. Each package is tailored to the purchaser’s needs with options including livery, breaking in and pre-training programmes, all designed to give the horse the best possible start to their career.

The continued growth of Yorton feels inevitable, and with David and Birte at the helm, driving its vision forward is a certainty.

Their commitment to innovation and excellence has already positioned the stud as a leader in the industry and that momentum shows no sign of slowing.

With support from fellow CLA members Sam and Adrian Boyes, Yorton has recently agreed a tenancy of a 350-acre farm on the Rorrington Estate. This is an expansion that will allow them to broaden their offering and strengthen their full-service approach to breeding, training and sales.

It’s another step forward for a business that has fully embraced progress, and one that promises an exciting future for Yorton and its clients.