Is it possible for a horse to lose weight without restrictive measures?

[P.forpony]

I avoid restricting intake like the plague.
Horses are designed to move and eat!

Lots of different studies with varying results but as a rough average wild/feral horses can easily cover 20 miles in a day. The average domesticated horse doesn't have a chance of this in a field, let alone in a stable. So we are already restricting their natural ability/desire to move. I think adding the restriction to their grazing behaviour is just predisposing them to problems in other areas.

Even my good doers always have ad-lib forage access. Everything that's arrived fat has been worked slim eventually. Some types just take a lot more work to stay that way!

 

[Celtic Fringe]

My cob LOVES to eat but also needs to stay slim. He is normally out 24/7 and moves fields very regularly into ones that have already been grazed by the fussier equines on the yard. This keeps him busy and with the correct food intake. His other job is 'weeding' so he gets to nibble round the car park and edges of the yard. He gets a cup of lo-cal balancer every day but normally no other hard feed.
He is also in fairly hard work with hill work a couple of times a week, two ridden sessions in the school mostly at canter and an in-hand or pole-work session.