The uniform of the 1st Hampshire Light Horse/Mounted Rifles was grey with black lace and braid; no different facings colour. The left hand photo shows an officer, probably Captain J Bower, as there are rank badges on his collar that look like a crown and star. At that time this would denote either a captain or a colonel depending on the amount of lace on the collar. He wears a sword which is attached to his waist-belt with a frog. The belt has two shoulder straps which crossed over at the back. The brimmed hat has a bunch of cocks feathers fixed behind a badge. The breeches were either the same colour as the jacket or pale buff as in the case of the officer. The boots are described as Napoleon, covering the knee.
The NCO on the right is dressed in a similar way. He has no sword on his belt but he does have an ammunition pouch. If all ranks carried carbines the pouch would have been worn by officers as well as the rank and file. His cuffs have inverted rank stripes just above the cuff lace. This cut-out photo is indistinct so there is no visible gap between the chevrons, but there are probably four, denoting troop sergeant major. As they were technically infantry his title would have been staff sergeant. His medals show that he had served in the regular army.
In P W Reynolds' notes there is mention of a 2nd Hampshire Mounted Rifles, formed in Southampton in January 1861. Their uniform had scarlet tunics with blue facings and white lace.
