Catch small horse (4)
I believe the answer is:
snag
'catch' is the definition.
(snagging is a kind of catching)
'small horse' is the wordplay.
'small' becomes 's' (abbreviation - e.g. clothes size).
'horse' becomes 'nag' (term for an old horse).
's'+'nag'='SNAG'
(Other definitions for snag that I've seen before include "Minor problem" , "Minor hitch" , "Hitch, unexpected problem" , "Disadvantage - small hole in fabric" , "Catch -- problem" .)