Just curious here... Is there a specific reason that those of you who do not want their horses to grow their furry winter coat? Why would you want to keep them slicked down in the winter other than just for showing purposes? Why not just let their bodies do what they do instead of micro-managing this?

Faster cool out.

I admit I do it mainly for me.  My older retired horses out in the field don't get turnouts until it's reaaly cold, rainy and they won't go in the barn.  It makes me feel better leaving them out if they have blankets.  Our using horses get blankets when it gets real cold or we are going somewhere and they are clean.  I like them with a blanket or sheet so they don't get so stinky and we go to FL for 2 weeks in the winter.  I hate to take them down with a full winter coat, dry out time is very important also.

Cool out time! 

Cool out time. I am up in Minnesota and if I haul to an indoor to ride, or run at a barrel race, they cannot go back onto the trailer unless they are dry. 

I typically don't blanket the horses I am not riding. 

I live in the muddy PNW. It saves me lots of brushing time to not have to scrape and curry mud off everyday to ride 

Sorry for my ignorance but can you elaborate on this? What I'm gathering is that the horses will cool down faster without a furry coat after your riding session? Wouldn't that also mean that they would get colder quicker and have to rely on that blanket?

Thank you, just trying to learn some things I've never been taught lol. 

I agree on the cool out and also due to the fluctuating temperatures.  I use a Noble 4 in 1 blanket and can blanket with one blanket based on the weather.  I also use a cooler for the cool down which doesn't do much on a heavy coated horse.