It traces its origins as a cavalry regiment from the times of the East India Company, followed by its service in the British Indian Army and finally, after independence as the fourth oldest and one of the senior cavalry regiments of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army.

[5] After the Anglo-Maratha War of 1803, James Skinner ("Sikander Sahib") was dismissed from service by Daulat Rao Sindhia and was recruited by Lord Lake, who asked him to raise a regiment of 'Irregular Cavalry'.

[6] The initial contingent consisted of 800 men of Perron's Horse, who were under service of the Scindia,[7][8] all of whom were old Muslims comrades of James Skinner.

[10] Herber writes: "Altogether the dress, arms and appearance would lead any one versed in Indian history to believe Skinner's Horse to be the descendants of the conquering Moguls of Timour.

During its early years, the 1st regiment of Skinner's Horse recruited men from Haryana and Doaba areas.

The recruits was mainly composed of Ranghars(Muslim Rajputs),[12] Syeds, Moghuls, and localized Pathans from Delhi, Haryana and Western U.P.

In 1927, following the amalgamation of the regiment, the troops were Jats, Rajputs and Ranghars mainly from Gurgaon, Rohtak and Hissar.

The 1st Skinner's Horse remained loyal during the Indian Mutiny of 1857, seeing service in the Ravi River district and distinguishing itself at Chichawatni.

[22] A detachment of the regiment was tasked to guard the post at Gumboz and held against the attack by the Marris on 17 February 1918.

The Skinner's Horse accordingly acquired the status of a fully regular regiment of the British Indian Army and received standard government-issue equipment for all purposes.

[22] The senior Pakistani politician Sardar Shaukat Hayat Khan (1915–1998), who served with Skinner's Horse in Sudan/Africa during the Second World War, has written a brief but memorable account of the regiment's service there, in his memoirs, "The Nation that Lost its Soul" (Lahore: Jang Pubs, 1995).

[30] It took part in operations initially in Samba and then in Shakargarh sector and was awarded the battle honour Harar Kalan.

These were not in general use after 1914 but could still be worn by officers on special assignments (e.g. as an aide-de-camp) or while attending court functions.

The cap badge of the regiment prior to independence consisted of a central rose over crossed lances, with a crown between the lance-heads.