* Heavy goods: Coal, timber, building materials, and agricultural produce. Their immense strength was ideal for hauling heavy loads.
* Milk and dairy products: Milk was often delivered by horse-drawn carts, especially in rural areas.
* Beer and ale: Shires were used to transport barrels of beer and ale to pubs and taverns.
* Mail and parcels: Before motorized vehicles, horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of mail delivery.
* Passengers: Shires were also used to pull passenger carriages and buses, particularly in urban areas.
* Fire engines: Shire horses were used to pull fire engines and other firefighting equipment in the past.
Overall, Shire horses were essential for transportation and commerce throughout history. Their size, strength, and stamina made them ideal workhorses for a variety of tasks.