CROWLEY - Many Crowley residents may have come across Rachel Bertrand and her friend Etska Friday afternoon during their travels around town. While many of them marveled at Etska’s beauty, what they may not have know is just how rare Etska is.

Etska is a breed of horse known as a Friesian Baroque which has a Louisiana population of “approximately 20.” The Friesian is most often recognized by its black coat color, though color alone is not their only distinguishing characteristic. Friesian horses also have a long, thick mane and tail, often wavy, and “feathers”--long, silky hair on the lower legs, deliberately left untrimmed. She is very tall, with a broad chest, and is obviously very smart as was evidenced by the way she obeyed each command Bertrand gave her and the disciplined slow trot that got them around. Etska’s discipline level is also a testament to Bertrand’s talent as a trainer.

“I’m telling you that woman is a horse whisperer,” said Bertrand’s friend Gina Miller. “She’s really done some amazing things with her horses.”

Bertrand started out at the Rice Arena this morning then traveled through Beauvoir subdivision eventually making her way to Hoffpauir Park. She was obviously quite pleased with how Etska responded and commented on how many people stopped her on Friday to view Etska.

“A lot of people stopped me today,” laughed Bertrand. “She became real popular.”