The uniform changes of 1812 were brought about through the enthusiasm of the Prince Regent for military uniform. The light dragoon uniform changed radically to distance itself from the hussar style. The jacket was still blue but each regiment had a distinctive facing colour. In the case of the 9th Light Dragoons the colour was crimson, on the collar, cuffs and the plastron front. The lace and cords were also changed from silver to gold. There was no gold lace on the jacket, but the dress pouch-belt was laced with gold, showing a crimson central stripe and edges. The chains and pickers were of silver metal. Gold was also used for the epaulettes and the lace around the top of the shako.
The shako was based on those of foreign regiments, notably French. There was no badge on the front, but a gold rosette with a regimental button in the centre. The white over red plume was short at this stage. Gold cap lines extended from the top right side, under the right arm, and hooked up to the left shoulder with flounders and tassels.
As this officer is in review order he wears white breeches and hessian boots, but usually grey overalls were worn, and in fact an order of 1815 discontinued the breeches except for levées and social occasions. The gold and crimson girdle round his waist is half concealed here, but the sword-belt can be seen to be laced with gold, supporting the scabbard, and sabretache which was at this stage laced and embroidered with gold. The crown and royal cypher is repeated on both the front and rear parts of the shabraque, and the rear part has IX L with D below. The blue valise behind his saddle also has IX L D embroidered on each round end. The saddle is covered with a black sheepskin edged in a red scalloped cloth. The bridle has been carefully drawn by the artist, Charles Hamilton Smith, and is elaborately decorated with brass bosses and throat ornament. This uniform was short-lived as the regiment was converted to lancers in 1816.
