HIS legendary grey head lifts slightly before he continues nonchalantly to eat grass. Desert Orchid is fully aware of the visitors who are calling his name, encouraging him to come over to the gate for a mint or two. But the retired steeplechaser has just been turned out in his field, and he's not moving for anything. Instead, he continues to chomp, keeping one bright eye on the interlopers.

"He's saying 'if you think I'm walking up there when I've just gone out, you've got another think coming'," laughs Sue Gibson, who looks after "Dessie", as he is fondly known, when he stays at the family farm at Gillamoor, near Kirkbymoorside in North Yorkshire. "We can walk down the field and straight up to him if you like, he won't worry."

Sure enough, after we've trudged through the muddy field, Dessie comes across to meet us half way. His soft, grey muzzle searches tentatively for the mints in my hand and he introduces himself by rubbing his face up and down my black suit, leaving it covered in silver hairs. Clearly, he has a sense of humour.

At 26, Dessie appears to be in remarkably fine form. Though he is just over 16.1hh, he appears smaller and far daintier in the flesh. But his sleek neck is hard and muscular to the touch and his dark brown eyes are intelligent and bright. There's also more than a hint of mischief in them, and a certain cockiness, as Sue can testify when she rides him out during his stays at the farm.

"He's very good until you get him on the gallops or on a grass field - then his attitude changes and he wants to be off. He takes some holding," she smiles. "You wouldn't see me galloping across a grassy field because you wouldn't see me again.

"I think a few jockeys have been taken for a ride by him when he's taken off with them. He still wants to be the one in charge."

According to co-owner Midge Burridge, Dessie has always had a "cocksure" side to him. He was bred by Midge's late husband James from a racehorse mother and impressive jumper called Flower Child and the successful flat stallion Grey Mirage.

He began his career at a lowly novice hurdle at Kempton in 1983 and almost ended it there when he took a heavy fall at the first fence. But he started the next season on a winning note and went on to become famous for his front running and bold jumping style.

"He had a great personality from the beginning but I don't think we realised how good he was until his second season in training when he won six races on the trot," says Midge.

The unmistakable grey went on to secure an unrivalled record at Kempton, winning the King George VI Chase a record four times in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990. But he was to secure his legendary status in 1989 with his memorable triumph at the Cheltenham Gold Cup. It was a duel which was voted the Greatest Race of All Time in a recent Racing Post poll, ahead of Red Rum's first Grand National victory over Crisp in 1973.

To begin with, the race was held on an undulating left-hand course, when Dessie was seen to favour a right-handed track such as at Kempton. In addition, the soft ground made the racecourse going heavy.

But almost 52,000 turned up to watch their favourite grey see off the mud-loving Yahoo and win by a length and a half. His courage was summed up in the words of his jockey Simon Sherwood: "I've never known a horse so brave."

Midge agrees: "I think it was his bravest race, and his courage really won it for him."

After winning 34 of his 70 starts, and amassing £654,066 in prize money in ten years, Dessie retired from racing in December 1991. Since then, his star appeal has ensured his place as a celebrity in his own right, and he has gone on to raise thousands of pounds for injured jockeys, ill treated horses and donkeys, and other charities through various events. According to Sue Gibson, he never tires of the attention lavished on him.

"You get some thoroughbreds who wouldn't be able to take all the bangs and balloons going off at these events," she says. "But he's a very well adjusted, sensible horse and people love to see him.

"As soon as anybody appears, he just turns on the charm and when the cameras come out he gets the "Des look" on him. But you also have to never forget that he is a horse. I think sometimes people do forget when they get to the fetes and expect him to start jumping on the bouncy castle."

Following his memorable Cheltenham victory, trainer David Elsworth was besieged by letters and messages of congratulations, which led Midge Burridge to start a fan club in Dessie's honour, which she runs with John Hippisley. It began with 350 members and so far more than 4,600 have joined. Every year, fans send around 300 cards for Dessie's birthday, as well as a stack of mints, carrots, biscuits and even cake.

"Some of the cakes are a bit strange. They arrive in a dreadful state because they're all squashed," admits Midge. "But not everyone is necessarily horsey - they're just mad about Dessie."

Dessie is a gelding, so there will be no sons of Desert Orchid to reclaim his Cheltenham crown. But there is one promising prospect - the son of Dessie's sister, Irish Orchid. So far, five-year-old Gentleman Jim has only run in one race, but according to Midge is one to watch for the future.

"He's a big horse but he ran very well last year," she says.

Dessie tends to spend the summer in North Yorkshire at the Danby farm of Midge's stepson and co-owner Richard Burridge, before moving to David Elsworth's yard near Salisbury for the winter. In the spring, he's on holiday at the Gibson's farm.

"He likes to move around because it makes a change for him and it gives people in the North a chance to see him," says Sue.

Back in his field, Dessie has polished off a packet of mints. Ever the gentleman, he resists the temptation to nibble at Sue's empty hand. With a swish of his silvery tail, he opts instead to return to a spot of quiet grazing. It is hard work being a star, but fortunately a leisurely afternoon outdoors beckons.

"It's amazing really, how he's still remembered," says Sue.

"But I think he was successful because he had a big heart and he was confident with his jumping, and enjoyed racing. And, of course, he was grey, people love greys."

* For more information on The Official Desert Orchid Fan Club write to Midge Burridge at Letterbox Cottage, Taston, Oxon, OX7 3JL.