Biography

Arthur Duffort

French rider Arthur Duffort (36) enjoyed a successful debut at Badminton in 2022 (34^th) with Toronto D’Aurois and the pair completed again last year.

Arthur who was formerly based in North Shropshire running Otis Eventing and has been based in the UK for 15 years, has recently relocated with his family back to France and is now based in the Loire Valley, between Angers and Tours.

Arthur is from the French Alps. From 2006 – 2010 he was stable jockey to Andrew Nicholson and then for four years was based with producer and show jumper Kim Belton. He made his 5*debut at Burghley in 2016 (Herbst Golden Eclipse) and gained his second completion of the event in 2019 with Badminton entry Toronto D’Aurois. Arthur also competes the British-bred Gredington Mailthyme at 4* level and the pair represented France in the World young horse 7-year-old championship.

Arthur produces horses for sale and the sport in partnership with his wife Logan (nee Rawlings), an American rider and 4* competitor, who was formerly based with William Fox-Pitt. The couple has two young children.

Arthur enjoys snowboarding.

Toronto D’Aurois owned by brother and sister Paul and Julie Gatien and rider, is a 17-year-old French-bred, Selle Francais registered gelding. He is by Polack II (by the thoroughbred Pot D’Or) also the sire of former four-star horse Harry ridden by Bruno Bouvier (the pair completed Burghley on three occasions). Toronto is out of a mare by Dalouvet D’Evordes (a son of the great Galoubet A). He was produced in France to two-star level by Arthur’s good friend Paul Gatien. He was originally bought to be produced and sold but as he turned out not to be the easiest no one wanted to buy him. Arthur took over the ride at the end of 2016. Toronto completed his first five star at Burghley in 2019.