Resize Status Bar Height Possible?

I notice that it is not possible to change the height of the Status Bar when windows is using an XP Theme. I notice no matter what i do including using the either of the lines:

SendMessage(hwndStatusBar,SB_SETMINHEIGHT,20,0);

or even:
SendWindowPos(hwndStatusBar,NULL,0,0,100,20,SWP_NO_MOVE);

The status bar will not change its standard height size from 23 pixels when windows is Themed with its default XP look. When i remove themes (back to the old win2k gray look) then resizing works.

Can someone tell me, is it possible to change the height of the status bar when Theme is active?

Thanks