Where to Look for Property? We have horses..

[EdF]

I suppose this is like asking 'how long is a piece of string?' Situation is that we live in the north of Scotland and after many trips to France, and having finally decided that we cannot take the awful weather here any longer (two days ago it was 6C at 11am, and raining), we want to move to France, either permanently or 'part-time'. We will be keeping a small house here, 'just in case' which will be rented if all goes well. We have two horses, a middle aged native breed cross and a Dutch warmblood sports horse (a wimp who had sweet itch last year - a highly irritating reaction to midge bites). We're concerned for the horses about possible summer heat problems and winter cold, both can be more severe than here, and biting insects. We've noticed that in mountainous areas (in Switzerland), summer insects weren't a problem at all, we wondered if this holds true in higher altitudes in France such as the Auvergne. We are very well settled here as far as the horses are concerned, with a great horse specialist vet and a top-class farrier and we grow our own haylage, but WE are unhappy! It's a bit daunting to leave all that behind and to find a suitable location, a house with decent land, good hacking, etc., etc. A lady we know in Poitou-Charente told us last year, 'for God's sake don't bring your horses here!!' The summer heat and insects were driving her nags crazy. We can't take scorching heat, for that matter! 

We don't need to earn a living (I'm retired) and can move anywhere. I suppose it would be handy being able to get flights to Scotland, which cuts the choice down a bit. We would like to live in an 'interesting' area, that is, with some up & down bits, we wouldn't be happy on a vast plain! Auvergne, maybe Burgundy, Haute Savoie & Jura come to mind. We are about to come over again for a week or so, and any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks!

[cooperlola]

Way out of your chosen area, but do consider the Perche (Orne and Northern Sarthe) - bristling with horses and great hacking in forests and rolling countryside.  My two love it here.  Average temperature about 5 degrees above the South of England.

[Mozman]

Yes...I second that....Normandy is great for horses. Good pasture too and lot of 'horsey folk' and and Haras seemingly around every corner. We currently have a house south of Orbec ...where Calvados meets Orne. It is weather that is like very good South coast of England weather. And besides...if you need a bit more sun you can get down to the Loire valley easy-peasy in two hours.

[hoverfrog]

you could do a lot worse than the Limousin... after all, Pompadour is the home of Le Haras National!

http://www.haras-nationaux.fr/portail/mieux-nous-connaitre/les-haras-nationaux-en-region/limousin/pole-hippique-de-pompadour/

Corrèze is very horsey, and Limousin is great hacking territory.

We don't suffer too much from biting insects, but flies can be a nuisance in summer.

Hacking to the top of Mont Gargon has to be one of the most fantastic experiences ever :)

[kelbo]

Hi there

just read your post - we are trying to narrow down an area - I have horses and we too like the Limousin area. I would like to be in an area with lots of off road hacking as one day we may possibly open a small scale trekking centre (I know it is a pain to transfer UK BHS qualifications to France!) and good weather. Also, not too isolated, with other horsey people around? Also, another small point, last year it rained solidly for the 2 weeks we were there! Is that just bad luck?

Any help appreciated or point me to an appropriate forum!

Thanks

[Nicos]

Loads of horses in the Suisse Normande!

Where areyou contact airports???