Right folks dilemma!!!! I own a 18 yr old ID x TB who lives out 24/7. At the moment he is very hairy and is sweating under his rug getting very uncomfortable and itchy!!! Do I a) clip him (I normally have to clip him in the summer anyway) b) just leave his rug off?? The problem with that is he is grey and I do ride him regularly.
Leave his rug off. As he's moulting and changing coat he is probably itchy from that as well as being sweaty.
Cowboy Magic in his mane and tail will stop mud sticking, Mud Away on the elbows, girth and face to keep the mud away then you just need a good dandy brush for the saddle patch and your horse still gets to be a horse and have a nice roll and a scratch.
Rug off - muddy marks are much less important than your horses comfort!! You only need to chip the mud off from bridle/saddle areas anyway.
My mare is grey and a total bog lover, we compete from the field and she is unrugged. You just have to cope with the mucky marks, and wash off for posh outings if needed!
PS I do feel very sorry for a lot of greys, everyone else is just as muddy but gets away with being more horsey because it doesn't show... If I ever come back as a horse I want to be a roan!