One would think that this could be a loaded question Daryl
but it's just a guess that perhaps since people were use to 
measuring horses by hand that 'high half' might be a dyslexic
version of 'half high' meaning that she was their little sister.

That's the best meaning I can come up with after doing a 
google that showed nothing decesive concerning the phrase
you have in question. 

Good Luck, Vicki :)

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