The cuirassiers were highly armored big men on big horses. They used to wear a costly three quarter armor, usually blackened, that ensure them protection from enemy bullets, together with a closed helmet, the most distinctive model being known as the Savoyard helm. They were armed with a pair of wheellock pistols attached to the horse saddle and a sword (Brnadic even suggest the use of old fashioned, long broadswords). During the 30s, the cuirassiers began to abandon their heavy armors being equipped, at the end of the war, not much differently from napoleonic or later cuirassiers with only a breast armor (and sometimes back) and an opened helmet as body protection.
Both Brzezinski and Brnadic agree on the cuirassiers tactics in the XVII century: deployed in usually 12 deep formations, they slowly marched against the enemy, speeding up their pace as they advance, slowing down only to shoot their pair of pistols. After the pistols were shot to create confusion amongst enemy ranks, the first file of cuirassiers would have charged with swords in hand, while the second was free to decide to shoot the pistols or join the melee. The ineffective "caracole" tactic, which consisted in the first ranks shooting their pistols and turning back, is described by both authors as a degeneration caused by low morale or fear to lose life or a costly horse, not as a standard tactic.
http://fritzvicari.deviantart.com/art/Cuirassiers-and-Harquebusiers-Thirty-Years-War-359811877
Or would he? Clearly not the nimblest cavalry unit to do your recon for you but I have been doing this in pbem somewhat, surely a misuse of what has to be heavy cavalry. I also have them riding shotgun for supply carts, something these elite horsemen would not have been thrilled to have as a mission.
Other thoughts on TYW cavalry?
[ATTACH]34779[/ATTACH]