In October, 1797, the regiment marched for Birmingham and Coventry; in July, 1798, for Exeter and Taunton; and in the following summer proceeded to Radipole barracks, Weymouth; but marched from thence, in November of the same year, for Salisbury, Warminster, &c.
In August, orders were received for the regiment to be mounted on nag-tailed black horses;[54] and the horse's tails were consequently cut.
1800
During the summer of 1800 an encampment of about thirty thousand men was formed on Swinley common, near Windsor; the Royal Dragoons joined the camp in July; the troops were frequently exercised in the presence of the royal family, and the King reviewed the several corps previous to their departure. On the 11th of August the regiment quitted the camp, and proceeded to Croydon barracks and Epsom, with a squadron detached on coast duty in Sussex.
1801
On the 7th of January, 1801, his Majesty conferred the colonelcy of the regiment on Major-General Thomas Garth, in succession to Lieut.-General Goldsworthy, deceased.
Towards the end of May the regiment marched to Canterbury, and furnished numerous detachments on the revenue duty at the maritime towns and villages on the coast of Kent, where they assisted in making large seizures of smuggled goods, for which they received a reward of upwards of one pound per man.
1802
A treaty of peace with the French republic having been signed at Amiens, a reduction of two troops was made in the establishment, and the officers were placed on half-pay.