Heavy and Light Cavalry in Watering Order, 1812

Aquatint by J C Stadler after Charles Hamilton Smith, 1812.

British cavalry units normally took their horses from camp each morning to find water to drink before setting off on patrols or going into battle. Both horses shown here have their tails docked or trimmed to a shorter length, a practice adopted by British cavalry and German cavalry in British service.

From Charles Hamilton Smith's 'Costumes of the Army of the British Empire, according to the last regulations 1812', published by Colnaghi and Company, 1812-1815.