I need to find a saddle for my narrow, high withered horse that my husband can ride in. I can’t afford anything custom, trying to stay around $500. I’ve been perusing Facebook but I don’t even know what I’m looking for. My saddle fitter suggested we might get away with semiQH bars and a shimmable pad, but trying to find one with enough wither clearance would be hard.
Any suggestions?
**We were told he’s a quarter horse, but he looks like he could be an appendix.
While the withers do have to be taken into account, that is sort of the last piece of the puzzle, not the first. You must also fit the width and shape of the shoulders, the longitudinal curve of the back, and the lateral width and shape of the back.
It also matters if the withers are, or seem more prominent because they are just really tall, or because there is muscle wasting on the sides.
It sounds like you need a new saddle fitter if they don’t know how to find you a saddle that fits.
Can you post a conformation-type picture, and then one looking down his back from behind so we can see his lateral details?
Can you post pictures of your horse?
Saddle fitting is difficult, because you do need to try the saddle on the horse to ultimately know if it will fit or not. In general, if a horse is more narrow, then you will probably need semi QH bars (but not always).
In general, barrel saddles tend to have a lot of wither clearance, if your husband wouldn’t mind riding in one.
For your budget, I would try to find an older name brand saddle like Circle Y, Tex Tan, or Hereford.
I have narrow/high withered horses as well. Beau159 is right on target. For your price point and fit, I would try older model saddles. I’ve had a lot of luck with older Guffy’s, Circle Y and Big Horn. The barrel saddle comment is often true as well. Just remember they have high cantles and swells, so measuring may be a bit different, than say an all purpose or equitation saddle.
Many of the older saddles (pre-1970s) are built to fit narrow, high-withered horses. Simco from pre 1970s are another good brand. If you know what you’re looking for as far as quality, and how to flex a saddle to be sure the tree is sound, check out auctions and pawn shops. Many of those older saddles are excellent quality, though they might need strings or fleece replaced, and you can get them for much less money because of their age. Just be sure the leather is in excellent condition, all fastenings are solid, and the tree is sound. My favorite saddles ever have been 1920s and 1940s models, both sound and solid and built to fit me like a glove! Of course they only fit a rare horse in the western world these days, so they don’t get much use. But perhaps you’ve got just the right horse for the job! Best of luck, saddle fitting is a real pain.
Oh this is a great idea. I’ve actually seen a lot of saddles at our local pawn shops and on facebook. I will see if my saddle fitter could give me some help with checking the tree conditions. Thanks for the tip!!
If you don’t mind searching for a unicorn-- Big Horn made, for a time, a semi-synthetic cutting horse saddle. I have one and it has fit every TB type i have ever put it on. I am sure it’s a combination of semi-QH bars and a tall enough pommel but it’s amazing. Mine is definitely not for sale. 
If you find one, you will know it. It is shaped like a Buster Welch tree, super flat seat, tall laced rawhide horn.
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