Ask the Nutritionist: Dr. Getty's Forum for Equine Nutrition
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Dr. Getty
Hello Linda,
Your friend is correct when it comes to feeding hay. Your horses, though easy keepers, should not go for hours without anything to eat. This goes against the way nature made horses -- they are trickle feeders and need to graze 22 out of every 24 hours (they rest for about 2 hours total, but not all at once -- so hay should be available to them 24/7).
Actually, by removing the hay from them, they will do exactly the opposite of what you're trying to achieve -- they will GAIN weight. This is because of two main reasons. First, their metabolic rates slow down, making them burn calories at a much slower rate and hence, gain weight more readily. And, second, being without forage to graze on is very, very stressful for horses. This leads to the secretion of the stress hormone known as cortisol. The result of more cortisol is FAT STORAGE.
Horses are very able to self-regulate their intake if given the chance. If they are only given a set amount of hay each day, they will likely eat it very quickly and will be anxious for more. But, if given all they want, they will overeat at first (for a week or less) and then, once they see that they can walk away and relax and the hay will still be there when they return, they will self-regulate their intake.
I have seen this in literally hundreds of cases where overweight horses start to lose weight when given all the hay they want. Not only do they end up eating less, but eating actually stimulates the metabolic rate, making them burn calories faster, and they start to lose weight!
I don't agree with your friend about supplying grain -- an overweight horse is already insulin resistant by nature and adding cereal grains increases insulin production, making more fat.
So, a diet that has grass hay, a little alfalfa added in to create a high quality protein, and a small low starch/low sugar meal each day to add as a carrier for a comprehensive vitamin/mineral supplement, is how your horses will do best.
Thanks for writing about this very important issue.
All the best,
Dr. Getty 
Where are you from? Bayfield, CO