Defense Secretary Mark Esper Given Mongolian Horse

On August 8, 2019, Defense Secretary Mark Esper was gifted a Mongolian hose by the government of that country during a visit.  Mongolian horses are genetically related to Icelandic horses.  Esper named the seven-year old, caramel colored horse Marshall after WW II General George Marshall.

"“He’s happy, he likes his name,” Esper said while standing beside the horse outside the Mongolian Ministry of Defense."  Esper noted that General Marshall and he shared a home town of Uniontown, Pennsylvania.

Per the article, "Marshall, who had served in China between 1924 and 1927 while an Army officer, came to Mongolia to procure horses for his infantry regiment, as the “best horses” were from the region, according to Esper.  As the story goes, a young lieutenant under Marshall’s command disciplined a stubborn horse by striking it. Marshall punished the lieutenant “because he had such high regard for Mongolian horses.”"

Esper presented the horse's caretaker with a saddle blanket with the U.S. Army Old Guard badge.  Marshall the horse will remain in Mongolia.

Charles Hagel, US Defense Secretary under Obama, was given a Mongolian horse he named Shamrock.  Donald Rumsfeld, Pentagon chief under President George W. Bush, called his horse Montana.  These horses stayed in Mongolia also.

You can view photos of Esper and his Mongolian horse via the link below.

Source: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/456657-mongolia-gives-horse-to-esper-as-us-looks-for-new-inroads-against-china