The great saddle search... Where to start?!?

[Gnequestrian]

A little back story.
I used to ride hunt seat and owned lanky thoroughbreds and thoroughbred mixes. They typically were easy to fit with an off the shelf med tree saddle and maybe some type of pad. (I used a Circuit Big Ben model, med tree, 17" seat)

Fast forward to recently. I took a break from English riding and just played around, I ended up adopting a yearling mustang and have been spending time training him and had switched to western riding. He is now 5 and I have decided to go back to my roots and switch back to English riding, eventing specifically. He is definitely not shaped like my previous horses.
He is flat backed with round withers and wide over his spine. Think like a welsh or morgan.

Question
I don’t have easy access to a saddle fitter to come out and actually measure Flint.
I’m not sure what my budget is for a new saddle at the moment. I’m under the assumption I will need to go with a hoop tree and one with a wider gullet channel, but I just have no clue where to start size wise for him. I’ve never had a horse shaped like him. I live in Louisiana and finding a saddle fitter to come measure him isn’t easy. I’m thinking my best bet will be to do wither tracings and send them off.

What/Who do you guy’s recommend?

[leheath]

I can make two recommendations. My first recommendation is Trumbull Mountain Tack Shop. They do a great job with tracings and photos and then making saddle recommendations. They have used and new saddles in a range of prices, and their customer service is great!

My second recommendation is to see if there is a WOW fitter near you or that you can send tracings and photos to. These saddles are super adjustable and customizable to any shape horse and, if you find a fitter who will tell you what you need, you can get good deals on used saddles online. They are innovative and I have 2 and love them both (dressage and jumping).

[Mombie]

I have a wide pony too… he is fitted in a prestige eventer 36cm. Fits excellently. Ann Forrest does “virtual fittings” I believe. From a wither tracing.
I looooove my saddle and how pony goes in it

[jaybird660]

Mustang horses are typically more laterally round and flatter than TBs. What would be helpful, would be to see the following photos:

Conformation shots, no tack or pad. Horse square, head up, directly from the side, of the entire horse and one from right behind the tail on a mounting block looking toward the mane, head up and straight, feet square.

[Gnequestrian]

Jay - Ok, I will get some when it is light out.

I really want a leather saddle but I’m concerned It will be way out of budget (also really want a mono-flap but don’t think that will happen). He would take an XW/XXW gullet plate in a thorowgood according to their chart (I have a flexi-curve) and needs plenty of spine clearance.

Mombie - My friend has a 34cm prestige that we tried on him when she was visiting, it was too small. The gullet channel especially was too narrow for him. It looked like a tent on him. The 36 might work but I don’t know if the channel would fit too.

I’ve got a saddle for sale and an old horse trailer. I’m hoping to have about 2500 to spend once everything is sold.

[islgrl]

I have a horse with a similar shape and both his dressage and jumping saddles are Frank Baines. They fit him great…

[Gnequestrian]

Umm… So I was a little reckless and made a huge gamble. Ebay notified me of a new saddle listing that I might be interested in. I just bought a County Stabilizer. From all the pictures posted it looks like it will be a pretty near fit and Im hoping perfect with a little tweaking from a rep/fitter.
It was fitting everything I was looking for and for the price had to make the decision.
Wish us luck!

[Groom_amp_Taxi]

Good luck! I did the same after much study and it worked out ok - not perfect, but the horse had other issues that confounded the situation. I did much better with that saddle than with the one I purchased from a fitter who more or less guilted me into a hasty purchase and then wasn’t too helpful when I had ridden in it enough to realize it really wasn’t working.