Byerley Turk
| Byerley Turk | |
 Painting by John Wootton |
|
| Race: | probably Arabs or Turkmens |
| Father: | |
| Mother: | |
| Mother, father: | |
| Gender: | stallion |
| Year of birth: | circa 1679 |
| Year of death: | 1714 |
| Country: | England |
| Colour: | dark brown |
| Owner: | Robert Byerley |
Byerley Turk (* approx. 1679; † May 1714), dark bay stallion, is one of the progenitors of the English thoroughbred alongside Godolphin Arabian and Darley Arabian . He is variously referred to in the literature as an Arab or an Akhal-Teke - more precisely as a Turkmen .
In 1688 it was part of the booty that was taken from the Turkish army after the Battle of Buda . He then served his new owner and namesake, Colonel Robert Byerley, as a cavalry horse and came in the war of King Wilhelm III. of England against James II in Ireland.
Byerley Turk is mentioned only once as a racehorse: in 1690 he won a race at Down Royal (Ireland).
From 1701 at the latest, the stallion was available for breeding in Colonel Byerley's studs. The number of well-bred pedigree mares that Byerley Turk has mated is apparently small. Nevertheless, several descendants have established famous thoroughbred lines. His direct father line leads to the excellent breeding horse Herod (* 1758). Through his daughters he had an immense influence on the emergence of the new breed " English Thoroughbred ".
According to dissenting opinion, Byerley Turk did not come from the spoils of war of 1688, but was bred in England and is a descendant of Place's White Turk.