Saddles - wood vs metal

[hihobaron]

IdahoNancy pid='6726' dateline='1429160945']Northwest Packgoat Supplies adjustable aluminum for my boys. They are hard to beat. You can make it fit the goat and they have good straps. It is well designed to fit the goats body safely and securely.

Hello All
I am new to goat packing. Have two dairy bred wethers one is ready now for light packing the other is just 7 months old but both have a good set of manners.  I am in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains  nothing like you have out west. Most of their work will be token hikes and just to mess with "City Folk"   in places were I can't take horses. I do plan to "promote" goat Packing in a Friendly and Educational manner here on the east coast.
There are lots of goats in this area but other than farm animals/meat /milk. Nobody is working them.
I can use some help with information RE: What to look for in pack saddle fit, both sawbuck (I have built a couple for horses from scratch and  have done some horse packing. So is goat packing just a scale down of horse pack saddle design or are the more consideration that normal horse fitting of the saddle to the animal.? 
I have no big budget to equip my kids just looking for information on how to show them off to public as a conversation starter for now.
To all of you out there a crazy question is it possible to use a saddle horse and goats in mild trails together? Yes, I know the is a speed difference.
I have one very good trail horse that if you let him is very poky. Just an idea.
Thanks for any info you can share.
Here is a picture of Pete my 4 year old wether ,What do you think? He is not in shape YET.