He is almost one year old. I’m struggling with that negative temps coming next week. He is now naked, and has a hay bale and shelter. But do I use a weighted blanket just for the few negative temp days next week? Will that really flatten out his coat enough where if I take it off a few days later it won’t puff back up again?
No, it won’t make his coat ineffective. I’ve had a medium weight on my 35yo for most of January, with no nights naked, and very few days naked. But those day - one was yesterday - his coat fluffed right back up. The other 2 had blankets for about a week before this current “warm spell”, as they all do most years, and without hours of it off, the coats are just fine
If he’s dry and well-fed, out of wind, he’ll likely be fine. Will other horses be with him?
That said, I also don’t have any problem putting a medium or heavy on him
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I’d sleep better blanketing a young one, unless he’s got the haircoat of a Wooly Mammoth.
Even then, more for my Peace of Mind 
I’ve had mine blanketed for nearly a week - checking bellies, flanks, briskets under blankets for warmth - when blankets came off, hair was flat, but poofed back up in a matter of hours.
FWIW, I only blanket if we get blizzard-strength snow & even then, if snow piled on their backs isn’t melting, skin under still dry, no blanket.
They have free access to stalls that face away from prevailing wind & on the rare occasion wind goes toward stall entry, still provide some shelter.
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If she has been outside all along, no health issues, a windbreak, I would give some extra hay and think she would be fine. This is how I keep my weanling. I routinely lock her in the stable so the other horses don’t get her feed but it is a very open design. No blanket just free choice hay, and hay in the hay net just in case she does eat everything. We have had -30 on the thermometer, never mind the wind chill.
When it warms up and the sun is out I will pull the blanket off the delicate flower so she can roll…her hair will be fluffed up by evening when I put the blanket back on.
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I always blanket my weanlings. Besides just staying warm, it’s a good training opportunity to get them used to wearing a blanket for an extended period of time and blanket changes.
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And to get them used to having things tossed on them
Hay makes them warm. A blanket will help keep them warm but it doesn’t generate heat. If it’s dry and not windy my personal opinion is that there isn’t much difference between 35 and 0 to a horse except they eat more. They can easily generate a healthy temperature by eating but how warm they stay depends on their coat, if they are clipped, blankets, the wind etc,
When it gets wet, windy or below 0 you need to re-evaluate but often they are fine then too. Many horses live outdoors 24/7 at far colder temps.
I feel ears to judge. There is definitely a difference. It’s also cheaper to blanket than to deal with the odd all who won’t eat enough to generate enough heat to stay warm, loses weight, and stands about shivering.
General question to all now, am I the only one who looks at my horse’s coat (as well as feeling ears) to check if I need to blanket? If I see a fluffed coat, I am not happy - the horse is ‘working’ to keep warm. If I see a flat, sleek coat, I know the horse is comfy and not yet in need of a blanket. Caveat - I ride all year long and have owned an PSSM horse.
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Fluffing is one way they stay warm, it doesn’t automatically mean they need a blanket. Mine are fluffed when it’s 25 and sunny AND they have a leg cocked and are taking a little nap. Horses up north where air and snow are dryyyy, with snow on their backs and not melting, are fluffed and warm (generally, not all of course)
My horses never have a flat sleek coat under 40, unless they’ve been doing some running. It may not be as fluffed as it is at 25*, but it’s not flat, let alone sleek
PSSM is a whole different ballgame
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I generally watch their demeanor and feel areas like their elbows and between their legs to gage their comfort.
My young horse will gallop around like a fool if she’s cold. But my older horse will generally be huddling in the shelter, tail clamped, looking miserable.
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