From what I heard it's one of, if not toughest brass instruments to play. tbh I'd be fairly daunted by the prospect and I played the tenor horn (altohorn) for years.

Infact I'd say maybe the altohorn is an alternative, though it's a pretty unfashinable instrument and doesn't have the same attraction as the french horn. It's a very nice instrument to play and ideal for a brass beginner! Infact I seem to remember that most of the french horn players I knew started off on the altohorn and progressed to the french horn.

Though like others say, no instrument is impossible to play, if it's what you want to do, then don't be put off completely.