Any horse owners who can advise me on owning & buying 1st horse/s, please?

[smellymelly]

Am moving into new house this year,(in France) Dh is busy renovating it at the moment. We have the land and great 200 year old outbuildings for animals, and are considering breeding Alpacas. So as we will be looking after them, I am very keen on buying a horse, for me and my kids.

I was just considering one, then my friend said why not get 2, one for me and one for my kids?

So please help me with the following...

What size is a good size for a 3 and 6 year old to grow up with for a few years?

What size is the smallest I could get away with for me, (5'4" and 9.5 stone)? A bit scared of big ones, too far to fall!! But if dh wanted to ride he is about 12 stone! he would only ride occasionally though..so would need advise on sizes for both in case.

How do I convert hands to metres? (measure in metres in France?)

Should I buy in UK and import or buy in France? (my french is not great yet, but can get by!)

Is it much harder looking after 2? Obviously insurance and feed costs double, but I presume they are happier together. Would they need to be in separate stables? May sound silly, but the rooms in the outbuilding are vast.

The best thing is that we can keep them at the house, so let me know if I am mad in contemplating owning 2 when I have never owned before. Also haven't ridden for about 7 years, but just need to get my confidence back, I hope??

Thanks

Thanks everyone. I have some stable management experience, for 3 years while at 2ndary school I rode and looked after the horses once a week. Also went on riding holidays etc. But I am obviously in need of refreshing. Not completely green though, just in owning my own.

Good advice on grass clippings, I didn't know that either.

CD - very funny!!

I have bought books on riding and horse care, so am reading thoroughly, but also have chickens and when we bought books on chickens they tell you to panic about loads of stuff which is not necessary, hence my silly questions about what is really involved about caring for horses.

Ta - pixel re the name!! I know some hate it.

I also do not have a particular breed in mind, tbh I prefer some colours to others but that is as far as it goes at the moment, temperment is the most important, followed by size.

Also think I may wait till twins in school/nursery - age 3 out here, so have a 1.5 years to look!!!!!

sorry catj - I am a little far away!!

I have been thinking about all the hard work they come with, and I realise it is not all rosy, but we will be looking after Alpaca's too, so will see how we go. The only thing hard with the twins at home, will be riding, but Dh should be around to help too.

Maybe I should start an alpaca thread for advice on them too!!

Don't know anything about alpacas but the horse-rescue place up the road from me has Llamas! They seem to live quite happily with the horses and a donkey.