 The Shire horse is a breed of draught horse ( BrE ) or draft horse ( AmE ) . The breed comes in many colours , including black , bay and grey . They are a tall breed , with mares standing 16 hands ( 64 inches , 163 cm ) and over and stallions standing 17 hands ( 68 inches , 173 cm ) and over . The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling , and Shires have held the world records for both largest overall horse and tallest horse at various times . Throughout its history , the breed has been popular for pulling brewery wagons delivering ale to customers . This practice continues today , with the breed also being used for forestry , leisure and promotional pursuits . 
