Depends. In theory yes but some struggle. Mine was out with adlib haylage, rugged up to the eyeballs (literally) and given 2-3meal daily and came in for 4 hrs during the day and didn't cope well. This year he is looking fantastic on the same feed and haylage quantities but coming in during the night instead. All comes down to the individual.
PS. all my other horses have managed fine living out 24/7.
My warmblood is for the first time unclipped this year, and she has been out naked! She has had a rainsheet on about five or six times maybe up to now because the natural shelter in her field isn't great. She comes in warm as toast every night, and hasn't dropped weight at all (unfortunately!)
Mine is also unclipped and usually rug less. He copes perfectly in snow with ad lib hay.
But - he really,really doesn't like wind or sideways rain and he asks to come in
then. I comply, of course
They definitely can, my youngster does although well rugged, she lived out unrugged before i had her and coped fine although a little underweight but she was growing like a giraffe at that point. The more turnout the less stressy they seem to be, the more their joints can move.
My TB is living out 24/7/365 with only natural shelter. Currently out in a LW rug, warm as toast, happy as a pig in poo. As long as they are warm and have plenty of forage, any horse is fine living out.
I have a 2 1/2 year old oldenberg who has lived out from birth......she had never worn a rug until I brought her about a month ago, we have lots a natural shelter and a field shelter but the field she was in last winter had neither and she coped just fine
It depends on the horse. Iv got an appy x welsh that drops weight like nobodys business in winter, even the vet can't understand why. But he's much more appy than welsh and loves coming in anyway. I know of a 19 year old TB that lives out though, well rugged but lives out
Mine does! Oldenburg x Selle Francais 16.2hh jumping mare. She hates being stabled and weaves and stresses big time. She has very good rugs, decent grazing, hay and hard feed. She thrives and looks fantastic. She is in a fair amount of work (except for the last week with the weather!) And is absolutely happy as larry!