“He’s as hard as nails”

CRAIG ANDERSON, a former event rider and current jointmaster of the West Percy, has field mastered from his now 17-year-old Irish-bred gelding Robbie for eight seasons, and hunted him for 10 years in total.

“He has never missed a day’s hunting through illness or lameness,” says Craig, who describes Robbie as the toughest horse he has ever known. “After the season, he is turned out 24/7 and he goes quite feral. Because he is active and grazing all summer, it doesn’t take much work to bring him back to fitness.

“Once back hunting, Robbie has plenty of turnout and a basic diet of cool mix, sugar beet, flaked barley and Dengie Alfa A, with a Selenavite E supplement we give to all the horses. He’s not the greatest mover, but being short-coupled helps to keep him right; he doesn’t over-exert himself and he is very careful over wet ground and mud. I could count on one hand the shoes he has lost.

“Robbie is quirky, but he’s as hard as nails and he never gets tired or gives up. As soon as he sees hounds, he puts his game face on.”