"Come and spread plenty of love with the animals and just be a good all-round horseman," said Robinson, after revealing Just Ishi was born a runt.
As a foal in September 2007, he got quite ill so the sisters took him for medical appraisal.
"We thought he was going to die so we left him at Massey because they didn't think they could save him," she said.
However, the veterinarians released the foal, who returned home. For two years he was scrawny, but blossomed physically and mentally with time and care.
"You would never have believed that he would grow into the horse he is now," said Robinson. The animal was christened accordingly.
"Well, he was always Ishi, Just Ishi," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. "He's slightly spoilt."
However, the gelding has to toe the line like the rest of his peers in the stable despite all the attention.
"He knows he's the king of the group at the moment."
Robinson and Temperton, who were conspicuous in matching crimson hats, have a couple of horses they work on together at the latter's stable but they are virtually inseparable when it comes to attending trials and meetings around the country.
They still ride equestrian non-competitively, while their children and grandchildren are trying to establish their own identities in the competitive arena.
Said Robinson: "My daughter and I judge RAF show horses so, really, the horses are our life."
The Hastings sisters married (Robinson to Herston) in the 1970s and left for Manawatu, although Temperton stayed in Wairoa a little longer before heading overseas and then returning almost a decade ago to Palmerston North.
Their mother, Noelene, wasn't horsey and didn't want her daughters going off on a tangent.
"If anything, she used to get a little bit cross because Gail and I would spend all our time in the farm with dad and not at home doing all the girl stuff," said a grinning Robinson of their father, who used to manage a farm in Raukawa.
As girls, they had a sheepdog and pony each.
"It was utter bliss for us because we could go out work sheep and do all the jobs."
Robinson said Irish jockey Walsh's work with Temperton's other horses was exemplary.
"With the horses on the property he's really, really good."
The Wellington Steeplechase at Trentham in a fortnight is on the agenda to gradually build the champion horse before the Grand National Steeplechase in Christchurch next month.
Just Ishi was fourth over 3200m at a heavy Trentham track in July last year. He was runner-up in the 3100m Sydenham Hurdles on August 6 last year in Christchurch but finished eighth at the 4200m nationals five days later.
"He's stopped hurdling now and has started steeplechasing and he seems to love the big fences," said Robinson.
"It's going to be a big trip down south but we went with three last year and it turned out to be a super trip," she said, adding the experience would depend to some degree on how bad the road was along the Kaikoura stage.
While the sisters love Manawatu, they relish returning to the Bay where they still have many friends they live with, including one in Waimarama Beach.
So who's the boss when push comes to shove?
"Neither of us although Gail is the boss with the horses because she pays their way," Robinson said, before revealing they religiously bounce ideas off each other.
