Trying a New Saddle, or "Someone Sponsor Me"

I mentioned in the first Stephen Birchall clinic post that my saddle fit isn't perfect. I've known that since I bought the thing, but it's the best I've been able to find/afford. Now, I'm thinking both Pig and I may have outgrown it.

I've developed a theory that as you ascend the levels in dressage, you get pickier about your equipment. While this saddle was fine (great, even) at getting me through the woes of 1st-2nd-3rd level, I'm thinking I fight it too much to really make huge improvements improving at 3rd.

Here's a picture of me sitting terribly to drive home my point.

For me: The seat in the saddle is a little too far back and not as deep as I would prefer. The flaps are also cut a little too forward for me, causing me to like to shoot my legs out in front of me, or lose my balance and shoot them back.
For Pig: The saddle is a touch too wide at the wither and a touch too narrow over his shoulders. (Now. It used to be waaay to wide everywhere. Horse has seriously bulked up.) He's started acting a little more resistant to saddling, and had a stint of possible saddle soreness two months ago (tightening up the girth seems to have helped the issue).

I could probably get the saddle reflocked to help it fit Pig better, but that will do nothing for me. Unfortunately, I'm also not allowed to buy a saddle until I land a full-time job. (Freelancing part time does not a saddle payment make...)

Of course, that didn't stop me from trying a barn friend's lovely Custom the other day...

Oooh, I'm interested...

While the saddle is fit for my friend's now-retired horse, I had hopes it might do okay on Pig. I'm still up in the air. It seemed a touch wide at the withers (but maybe just as wide as the current saddle), but didn't actually rub his withers during our ride. I didn't use a fluffy pad, just to be sure I was evaluating fit by the withers properly. The saddle also bridges slightly right in the middle of Pig's back.

Now. I know bridging can be bad, but I've also heard mild bridging isn't so bad. I would call this case mild. Pig didn't object to the saddle, but he rarely shows a huge difference where saddle fit is concerned.

I have the saddle a smidgen too far forward here. (I seem to always do this when first using a new saddle. Ugh.)

I'm not 100% sure how well a Custom fitter could mold this saddle to Pig's back. I've heard great things about Custom, but it's still a saddle with a tree. You can only do so much.

As for me? Hooooooooooooooooooooooooooo boy. I love it. The flaps are a smidge short for me, but not enough to hinder anything. The seat is perfection. I stick right in the right place and my hips SPRING open. It's glorious. That deep seat is 100% what I crave. In fact, the seat is so deep I hardly touch the thighblocks. They are useful when doing things like changes, but otherwise aren't more than gentle reinforcement of the seat.

Guys. I need this saddle.

Think I can qualify my saddle dreams as a 501c charitable donation? Huh? Huh??!

Yeah... me neither. Damn.