He is 40" at the highest point of his withers. Minis, for some strange reason, measure from wherever the last hair of the mane sprouts out.
Minis accept shetland ponies that are under 38" at the end of their mane. I wasn't at the nationals, so I don't know how tall the handler was.
LOL Teddy O'Conor! Andrea (stud's owner) just today was saying the same thing. She wants to breed him to a tall, hunter type mare. I told her my friend boards a mare pretty close by, maybe two miles away, that would be a great test cross. I should email Barb right now and tell her she can breed to him! Doubt she will say yes, but maybe...