41-621: The Byerley Turk ( c. 1680 – c. 1703 ), also spelled Byerly Turk, was the earliest of three stallions that were the founders of the modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock (the other two are the Godolphin Arabian and the Darley Arabian ). The biographical details of the stallion are the subject of much speculation. The entry in the General Stud Book simply states: "BYERLY TURK,
82-721: A Byerley Turk male-line descendant through Atlantic (1871–1891) through his son, the French Thoroughbred stallion Le Sancy (b. 1884), would also become an influential sire in the Trakehner breed. Chamant (b. 1874), another Byerley Turk descendant, also influenced the Trakehner and the Westphalian . The Byerley Turk sire line also lives on in Poland through the Anglo-Arabian stallion Ramzes (b. 1937), who
123-685: A direct sire line link to the Byerley Turk. The lineage can be traced to the German -born Thoroughbred stallion Fenék (b. 1883), who was by the British stallion Buccaneer - a descendant of Herod (b. 1758) through Herod's son, Highflyer (b. 1774) - out of the mare Hélène Triomphante, of the Godolphin Arabian line. Fenék was transferred to the Kisbér Stud in Hungary in 1894, where he had
164-441: A group. Overall, stallions can be trained to keep focused on work and may be brilliant performers if properly handled. A breeding stallion is more apt to present challenging behavior to a human handler than one who has not bred mares, and stallions may be more difficult to handle in spring and summer, during the breeding season, than during the fall and winter. Some stallions are used for both equestrian uses and for breeding at
205-414: A herd setting and may lose considerable weight, sometimes to the point of a health risk. Some may become highly protective of their mares and thus more aggressive and dangerous to handle. There is also a greater risk that the stallion may escape from a pasture or be stolen. Stallions may break down fences between adjoining fields to fight another stallion or mate with the "wrong" herd of mares, thus putting
246-555: A herd setting if proper precautions were taken while the initial herd hierarchy was established. As an example, in the New Forest , England, breeding stallions run out on the open Forest for about two to three months each year with the mares and youngstock. On being taken off the Forest, many of them stay together in bachelor herds for most of the rest of the year. New Forest stallions, when not in their breeding work, take part on
287-583: A herd with both males and females, reduce aggressive or disruptive behavior, and allow the horse to be around other animals without being seriously distracted. If a horse is not to be used for breeding, it can be gelded prior to reaching sexual maturity. A horse gelded young may grow taller and behave better if this is done. Older stallions that are sterile or otherwise no longer used for breeding may also be gelded and will exhibit calmer behavior, even if previously used for breeding. However, they are more likely to continue stallion-like behaviors than horses gelded at
328-416: A major sire every few generations, whose sons would create branches of their own. Most of these branches have died out over the course of time in the purebred Thoroughbred , but remain present in other horse breeds in which mares were bred to male descendants of the Byerley Turk. The line of descent to the present day is as follows: Thus, the continuation of the Byerley Turk sire line through Herod in
369-399: A private family home that offers accommodation, which includes the commemorative Byerley suite. He did not cover many well-bred mares, but his most significant sons include: The Byerley Turk also sired several highly influential daughters, most of whose names do not survive. They are generally classified by the female family that they belong to: The Byerley sire line persisted by producing
410-407: A stallion with a mare herd year-round, others will only turn a stallion out with mares during the breeding season. In some places, young domesticated stallions are allowed to live separately in a "bachelor herd" while growing up, kept out of sight, sound or smell of mares. A Swiss study demonstrated that even mature breeding stallions kept well away from other horses could live peacefully together in
451-580: A stud fee of £30 for foreign-owned mares, and £20 for Hungarian-owned mares. In the Trakehner , the Byerley Turk also had a major influence. Of the English Thoroughbred stallions who stood at the stud at Trakehnen, some were Byerley Turk sire line descendants, including Snyders (b. 1833), a male-line descendant of Herod (b. 1758); and Perfectionist, a member of the disputed Galopin line. The German Thoroughbred stallion Lehnsherr (b. 1927),
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#1732772643365492-433: A tendency to bite, may pose a danger of serious injury. The advantage of natural types of management is that the stallion is allowed to behave "like a horse" and may exhibit fewer stable vices . In a harem model, the mares may "cycle" or achieve estrus more readily. Proponents of natural management also assert that mares are more likely to "settle" (become pregnant) in a natural herd setting. Some stallion managers keep
533-499: A thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to female horses, known as mares , and castrated males, called geldings . Temperament varies widely based on genetics and training , but because of their instincts as herd animals, they may be prone to aggressive behavior, particularly toward other stallions, and thus require careful management by knowledgeable handlers. With proper training and management, stallions are effective equine athletes at
574-537: A younger age, especially if they have been used as a breeding stallion. Modern surgical techniques allow castration to be performed on a horse of almost any age with relatively few risks. In most cases, particularly in modern industrialized cultures, a male horse that is not of sufficient quality to be used for breeding will have a happier life without having to deal with the instinctive, hormone-driven behaviors that come with being left intact. Geldings are safer to handle and present fewer management problems. Some in
615-407: Is controversial, as the condition is at least partially genetic and some handlers claim that cryptorchids tend to have greater levels of behavioral problems than normal stallions. Darley Arabian The Darley Arabian ( c. 1700 –1730) was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. The other two founders were the Godolphin Arabian and
656-677: Is even possible he was bred in England from previously imported stock. He was definitely the war horse and cavalry mount of Captain Robert Byerley , who was dispatched to Ireland in 1689 during King William's War and saw further military service in the Battle of the Boyne . According to early records, Captain Byerley was nearly captured while reconnoitering the enemy, "owing his safety to
697-480: Is most easily corrected by gelding the horse. A more complex and costly surgical procedure can sometimes correct the condition and restore the animal's fertility, though it is only cost-effective for a horse that has very high potential as a breeding stallion. This surgery generally removes the non-descended testicle, leaving the descended testicle, and creating a horse known as a monorchid stallion. Keeping cryptorchids or surgically-created monorchids as breeding stallions
738-644: The Byerley Turk . This bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo , Syria, by Thomas Darley in 1704 and shipped to Aldby Park in England, as a present for his brother. One author in 1840 described Darley Arabian's arrival in England during the reign of Queen Anne as the event which "forms the great epoch from which the history of the Turf [as in " turf racing "] should be dated". There he stood at stud, usually private but sometimes open to outside mares. He
779-757: The Janów Podlaski Stud Farm in Poland , and would go on to have a strong influence on the Westphalian , Holsteiner , and other German warmblood breeds . The Grand Prix and 1996 Olympic dressage team stallion Rubinstein I (1986 – 2000), a Westphalian , was one of Ramzes' most influential descendants among German warmblood and sport horse breeders, siring 89 state premium mares and 66 approved stallions. Rubinstein I sired over 400 mares in different German warmblood registries, as well as numerous sons recognized as Oldenburg and Hanoverian stallions. The performances of his get placed him 4th on
820-605: The Lipizzan stallions of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria , where the entire group of stallions live part-time in a bachelor herd as young colts , then are stabled, train, perform, and travel worldwide as adults with few if any management problems. Even stallions who are unfamiliar with each other can work safely in reasonable proximity if properly trained; the vast majority of Thoroughbred horses on
861-518: The animal rights community maintains that castration is mutilation and damaging to the animal's psyche. A ridgling or "rig" is a cryptorchid , a stallion which has one or both testicles undescended. If both testicles are not descended, the horse may appear to be a gelding, but will still behave like a stallion. A gelding that displays stallion-like behaviors is sometimes called a "false rig". In many cases, ridglings are infertile , or have fertility levels that are significantly reduced. The condition
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#1732772643365902-583: The dressage index for older stallions. Another influential Hanoverian stallion of the Byerley Turk line includes Bolero (1975 – 1987), by the Thoroughbred stallion Black Sky (b. 1966) of the Djebel line, out of the Hanoverian / Thoroughbred mare Baronesse (b. 1970). One of Bolero's best-known female descendants was the Hanoverian mare Brentina (1991 – 2021), the first American horse to take
943-667: The purebred Thoroughbred now largely depends on the descendants of Djebel, primarily through six descendants of his son Clarion (Captain Chop, Indian Haven, Linngari, Luck Money, Pearl Secret, and Total Gallary, via the Indian Ridge line), and secondarily through two descendants of his son My Babu (Bulleton via the Better Boy line, and Quite Fine via the Milesian line). Recent research from 2017 and 2019 has brought into question
984-489: The racetrack are stallions, as are many equine athletes in other forms of competition. Stallions are often shown together in the same ring at horse shows , particularly in halter classes where their conformation is evaluated. In horse show performance competition, stallions and mares often compete in the same arena with one another, particularly in Western and English "pleasure"-type classes where horses are worked as
1025-592: The semen at ejaculation , but are not strictly necessary for fertility. Domesticated stallions are trained and managed in a variety of ways, depending on the region of the world, the owner's philosophy, and the individual stallion's temperament. In all cases, however, stallions have an inborn tendency to attempt to dominate both other horses and human handlers, and will be affected to some degree by proximity to other horses, especially mares in heat . They must be trained to behave with respect toward humans at all times or else their natural aggressiveness, particularly
1066-588: The FEI World Cup Final in 2003; made the shortlist for the 2004 Summer Olympics ; and was named to the 2006 World Equestrian Games team, earning a bronze medal for the United States . Stallion (horse) A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded ( castrated ). Stallions follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed , but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions
1107-490: The annual round-ups , working alongside mares and geldings, and compete successfully in many disciplines. There are drawbacks to natural management, however. One is that the breeding date, and hence foaling date, of any given mare will be uncertain. Another problem is the risk of injury to the stallion or mare in the process of natural breeding, or the risk of injury while a hierarchy is established within an all-male herd. Some stallions become very anxious or temperamental in
1148-543: The correct spelling of the owner's name, Byerley. The Byerley Turk was a dark brown or black horse of unknown breeding, but described in historic accounts as an Arabian . At the time, Turkish horses were described as descended from "those of Arabia or Persia", but stated that they were longer in the body and of a larger size. He was described as a horse of elegance, courage and speed. Many of his offspring were also noted to have been either bay or black. In 1692, Captain Byerley married his cousin, Mary Wharton (sole heir to
1189-456: The estate of Goldsborough , near Knaresborough , North Yorkshire , England) and moved to live with her at her family home of Goldsborough Hall . After Byerley retired (as Colonel Byerley), the Byerley Turk retired to stud, first at Middridge Grange, then, from 1697, at Goldsborough Hall. The Byerley Turk died there in 1703 and it is believed he is buried close to the Hall. Goldsborough Hall is now
1230-428: The highest levels of many disciplines, including horse racing , horse shows , and international Olympic competition. "Stallion" is also used to refer to males of other equids, including zebras and donkeys . Fillies usually soon join a different band with a dominant stallion different from the one that sired them. Colts or young stallions without mares of their own usually form small, all-male, "bachelor bands" in
1271-499: The lineage of the sire Galopin . The research suggests that Galopin descends, not from the Darley Arabian sire line, but from the Byerley Turk. This is due to the descendants of Galopin possessing the Y chromosome Tb-oB1 rather than Tb-d, which is found in descendants of the Darley Arabian . This line of descent, which is a rare line via sire St. Simon (1881 – 1908), was found to exist as recently as 2023 in Saudi Arabia , from
Byerley Turk - Misplaced Pages Continue
1312-434: The most important sire in the history of the English Thoroughbred. His son Bulle Rock was the first Thoroughbred to be exported to America, in 1730. Most Thoroughbreds can be traced back to Darley Arabian. In 95% of modern Thoroughbred racehorses, the Y chromosome can be traced back to this single stallion. This is mainly through his descendant, Eclipse, who is the direct male ancestor of 95% of all thoroughbreds and in
1353-702: The pedigree of ensuing foals in question. Complete isolation has significant drawbacks; stallions may develop additional behavior problems with aggression due to frustration and pent-up energy. As a general rule, a stallion that has been isolated from the time of weaning or sexual maturity will have a more difficult time adapting to a herd environment than one allowed to live close to other animals. As horses are instinctively social creatures, even stallions are believed to benefit from being allowed social interaction with other horses, though proper management and cautions are needed. Properly trained stallions can live and work close to mares and to one another. Examples include
1394-646: The pedigrees of almost all modern Thoroughbreds through his daughter, Rouge Rose, who produced the Epsom Derby winner Bend Or ( Darley Arabian line). The Byerley Turk sire line has carried on in other horse breeds through his direct male descendants such as Diomed ( American Quarter Horse and Standardbred ), Denmark ( American Saddlebred ), and Justin Morgan ( Morgan horse ). Denmark, Justin Morgan, and Sir Archy (son of Diomed), are key foundation sires for their breeds. The Kisbér Félvér of Hungary has
1435-440: The same general time of year. Though compromises may need to be made in expectations for both athletic performance and fertility rate, well-trained stallions with good temperaments can be taught that breeding behavior is only allowed in a certain area, or with certain cues, equipment, or with a particular handler. If a stallion is not to be used for breeding, castrating (gelding) the male horse will allow it to live full-time in
1476-399: The sons of Pleasant Colony . Focusing on the sire line may underestimate the ongoing influence of the Byerley Turk; detailed pedigree analysis shows that he has a higher percentage of blood in the modern Thoroughbred than either of his fellow foundation sires through other lines of descent. Thormanby (1857–1875), a Byerley Turk descendant who sired almost 100 stakes winners, is present in
1517-547: The superior speed of his horse". As a general rule, the spelling of a name registered with the Jockey Club is considered definitive, even if it is an obvious error. However, the original edition of the General Stud Book was compiled nearly a century after the fact (in 1791) and contains several errors that have been subsequently corrected. Most sources consider the correct spelling of the horse's name to follow
1558-414: The wild. Living in a group gives these stallions the social and protective benefits of living in a herd. A bachelor herd may also contain older stallions who have lost their herd in a challenge. The external genitalia comprise: The internal genitalia comprise the accessory sex glands , which include the vesicular glands , the prostate gland and the bulbourethral glands . These contribute fluid to
1599-679: Was Captain Byerly's [ sic ] charger in Ireland, in King William's wars (1689, &c.) ." As for his earlier history, the most popular theory is that the horse was captured at the Battle of Buda (1686) along with the Lister Turk, who was brought to England by the Duke of Berwick. Other sources speculate he was one of three Turkish stallions captured at the Battle of Vienna . It
1640-494: Was sired by the gray Belgian Thoroughbred stallion Rittersporn (b. 1917) out of the Shagya Arabian mare Jordi. Rittersporn was a male-line descendant of the English Thoroughbred racing stallion Herod (b. 1758) through Herod's son, Woodpecker (b. 1773), and Woodpecker's son, Buzzard (b. 1787). Ramzes was an influential warmblood sire of show jumping and dressage horses who stood at various studs, including
1681-534: Was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1722. By all accounts, the Darley Arabian stood about 15 hands high and was of substantial beauty and refinement. The Darley Arabian sired the undefeated Flying Childers . He also sired Bartlett's Childers , an unraced brother of Flying Childers, who was the great-grandsire of the extremely influential Eclipse . The Darley Arabian was to become