Thoroughbred breeding first began in England due to the crusaders breeding large, heavy horses for their stamina, hard work and the ability to carry a crusader in all his armour and in the middle east horses which were lighter and agile were being bred for their speed.

During the 16th century an english captain became the owner of a Middle Eastern Stallion. He went onto breed this stallion with English mares to produce the line of Herod Thoroughbreds. This particular stallion is actually entered in the studbooks as Byerlye Turk.