This is really hard to give advice about.  You haven't given very much information and we can't see the animal.  I've really only seen the smaller horses place in Western pleasure, youth horsemanship, showmanships and novice classes.  I've picked many top judges brains and they all will tell you size does not matter(most women would also say this, LOL) but if you watch their placings that's not what happens.

It's really hard to give you an answer without seeing the animal.  I usually consult on equine purchases and placing young horses in the best line of work to suit them, but this really can't be done online.

Sorry, I broke my crystal ball!

I know their a different breed, but my appy mare was a show horse before I bought her and was top ten at nationals in halter and she is only 15 hands, her full brother won reserve champion at nationals and placed top 5 at world in halter and is 15.2. 

Of course I firmly believe that bigger is NOT better.  Ever watch someone 5ft nothing trying to mount a tall horse?  I'd laugh my rear off if it wasn't me trying to get up there.  I prefer the 14-14.2 hand horses.  That way I don't need a ladder. 

I take it you don't show...showing is about as far from this as you can get.  The paint horse circuit isn't the local "fun" show.

There's a little horse THEODORE O'CONNOR, um has a pony card since he's fourteen one and a half hands tall, that is getting a lot of attention at the Four Star Rolex Kentucky 3 Day event this weekend. He's currently in 10th place with his rider Karen O'Connor.

Er, they claim there is no relation between horse and rider. ;)

Here's a picture of the little guy on cross country today.

http://www.rk3de.org/photo_gallery_photo_view.php?id=427

http://www.rk3de.org/photo_gallery_photo_view.php?id=428

At the risk of talking to myself, Theodore O'Connor, AKA The Pony, finished 3rd at the Rolex Kentucky 3Day. BTW, it's the only four star event in the USA.

Guess the little horse never read the books that said he had to be a 17 hand monster to do such a thing.  Go little horses.

Best horse I've ever had, was/is a little horse named Flynn. He's done about everything. Sadly, he's run into his first rough spot at 31yo, but am hoping the gutsy little horse of mine pulls through. It certainly won't be for lack of effort on both our parts.

You might like to know, there is a smaller than his competition, ARABIAN competing and WINNING on the competition circuit. His name is "Russian Roulette", and he is a georgeous and talented boy. He has beat the pants off of a lot of those warmblood monsters, and does the course a LOT quicker too!

His Barn Name is; "Sasha"

He is from the Hollywood area of California of all places!

Huntseat, I respet your opinion. However, Yes I shown 20 years ago in the Arabian Show circuit. Had a little grey mare (15h) that could do Western Pleasure classes and be in the top 5, Halter and Huntseat on a Saturday and then turn around and go to a fun rodeo and do poles very well as well as other timed events. Have a reining QH mare now that is only 14.3 that has 80 points and still going. And I ride a 4 yr. old MO Foxtrotter for pleasure trail riding, mine is 16 hands, but my husbands mare is only 14.3 and keeps up just fine at the running walk. So based on my experience my horses didn't have to the bigger and taller to be successful. I don't think Seabisuit thought he was small... he was probably the greatest underdog in horse history.

I know that some judges prefer the "thoroughbred look" in WP or Hunt Seat, just as some judges have a color preference. The bottom line to me is does the horse have the ability to perform and the willingness to go the extra mile. Give me a horse with heart anyday over height.

Breed shows?  I know about the little guys on the jumper circuits but that's not on topic.  The original poster was asking about APHA shows, but way to hijack a thread ladies!

Another clarification, she's also asking about showing in the current day and time...heck, just about everything dealing with showing has changed in 20 years!

First question was is a smaller horse worth the time. My answer was yes and provided an example. Perhaps not of the Paint world, but of a world that usually has the attitude of 'The bigger the better.' A world where many of the people in it won't even look at a horse unless it's 16+ hands tall. With the exception for kids. They certainly don't look at a pony and say I'm going to take him as far as I can and go Four Star.

So if your little horse has that extra something that you aren't finding in the bigger horses you have looked at, I'd say go for it.

Back to the original post -

What events/classes does DMGrinnell show in? That could/would make a difference, right?