Are khaki suits unprofessional?
Don't mess him up with a blanket unless you are planning on riding him hard (which makes heavy hair stay wet and sweaty too long in the cold), or unless he refuses to grow a winter coat, or unless you are planning on showing at very advanced shows. As noted, a blanket forces his hair down, and removes any chance he has to monitor his own temperature by fluffing or flattening his winter hair. You will force him to accept whatever temperature the blanket keeps him at, and while barn temperatures stay pretty steady, shelters and pastures can change a whole lot in temperature in a short time. If you are working him frequently to the point of getting him really sweaty, then a blanket might be needed to keep him from hairing up so heavily that the sweat won't dry. If he stands out in the shelter at 20 degrees in a slick summer coat and shivers constantly, then he will need a blanket, because he failed Growing a Winter Coat 101. I did have an app gelding who did that, and we did have to blanket him during the winter. If you are showing him, for example, at quarter horse shows, then you will need him under lights, with a blanket and hood, to keep him slick and shiny for the show pen. I doubt that is the case with you, or you wouldn't put him on pasture board. Lighting an entire pasture is a bit too challenging, I should think!
