Coldcroft Shires will no longer offer carriage rides from 2025 due to road safety concerns.The Gloucestershire-based shire horse centre, which is run by Jamie Alcock, has been offering two-hour carriage rides around the local parishes since 2019 but will no longer operate them from 2025 due to the increased risk of being on the roads.The roads have never been brilliant but there has been a noticeable deterioration in the last 12 months and Ive made the call that its just too dangerous out there, said Jamie.Im not offering the experience people wantThere were six occasions where we were nearly hit in one carriage ride recently. Before you might have had a bit of an issue once a week but now its every time I go out. Its not fair on the horses, Im not enjoying it and Im not offering the experience people in the carriage want.Jamie has experienced many incidents of vehicles passing too close, tailgating, overtaking on blind bends and driving too fast.The roads around the farm are rural country lanes and there isnt an awful lot of space. I tend to keep the carriage off the lanes which are too narrow and use ones with plenty of passing places but I noticed early on this year how aggressive drivers have become. They push past you so the nearside wing mirror is only a couple of inches from the horse, they overtake in places they wouldnt risk overtaking any other vehicle and they drive too fast, continued Jamie.I believe whats going on on the roads is symptomatic of other things like the Covid lockdown and the cost of living crisis. People are a lot less happy, they are worried about money and these things contribute to the choices they make in every day life.From 1 April 2025, Jamie will offer shorter carriage rides around his farm in Taynton with the opportunity to stop for a picnic and there will also be the option to take the miniature Shetlands for a walk around the farm. His hands-on shire horse experiences will continue to take place.Further readingDriver hands himself in after hitting pony and rider on the roadEvery rider makes a difference: hundreds take part in Pass Wide and Slow awareness ridesMan and two Shires set off on 650-mile ride to police officer brothers grave to raise money for charityFarmer, Shires and dog embark on second epic endurance challengeThe post Its just too dangerous out there: shire horse centre stops carriage rides due to road safety concerns appeared first on Your Horse.