Uniforms, Horse Tack and Arms
The soldiers of the National Cavalry were dressed in the modernized and synchronized Polish national battle dress reflecting the appearance of Hussar and Pancerni dress prescribed by the 1746 proclamation of hetman Michał Kazimierz Radziwiłł. The 1746 Hussar regiments were dressed in crimson caps and kontuszes, with Navy-blue lapels and collars, while the Pancerni wore Navy-blue caps and kontuszes, with crimson lapels and collars. The only difference between the units formed in the Grand Duchy and those from the Crown were the buttons: silver for Polish and golden for Lithuanian units.
In 1785 the uniforms were modified and all units of national cavalry since then used Navy-blue Polish kurtka with red (later various colors) coloured pannel (pipping) of the Pancerni, red Polish-style loose fit pants (szarawary) with a double-lampas, buttoned with 6 buttons on the outside below the knee, and crimson Polish (square-top) czapka of the Hussars for the companions and red or black Kolpak for the retainers, changed later into a black "giwer" hat, 8 inches tall. On March 11, 1791 the new regulation was passed. Essentially the uniforms remained unchanged, but the number of adornments was lessened in order to make the uniforms less expensive. However, the new uniforms were never fully introduced. For rain and cold weather they had cavalry coats of white color buttoned with 12 buttons in the front, and heavier cloth pants, while during the summer the retainers wore loose linen summer pants. They wore black boots were of Polish design, with a 1 inch heel and spurs attached. The main offensive weapons for the National Cavalry regiments were: 'kopija' (lances)(companion) with swallow-tail pennon below the point, and cavalry carbines (retainers) and various Polish sabres for all. Horses were of Polish breeding (mostly from the country's Podolian and Volhynian studs) of medium stature, crested and with high neck, strong footed with 'iron hooves,' fast and with lots of stamina. Trumpeters traditionally rode paint horses for show and contrast. Horse harness was very well defined in the 1791 regulations: bridle with snaffle bit and curb-bit and double reins, breastplate with small 'rose' in the center, horse saddled with a Polish wooden-treed, leather-covered saddle (similar to the Hungarian hussar one) with high pommel and cantle, and crouper attached, with two leather pistol holsters attached to the saddle. Saddle was covered with a dyed textile 'mitug' (short shabraque) for a companion and black-dyed sheepskin 'mitug' with cloth double-color edge for a retainer, a 32 inch cloth valise behind the saddle under the mitug, with a grain bag underneath this valise. In addition two linen bags attached to the saddle and a small ax for a retainer.
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