what is this: an Australian saddle?

I have no idea of maker or brand, the poster should be able to tell you. Haha it's been many years since I sat in one of those! I could use the knee rolls some times though!!!

I am the original poster, but was asking what was the maker or brand of the saddle you rode in while playing polo-x.

I just poured over polo catalogs from around the world and saw no saddle even close to that. I suspect, muppet, that the saddle you used wasn't a traditional polo saddle but one that someone had and liked.

It does look like an Aussie hybrid saddle.

It looks kinda like one of these http://www.evolutionarysaddles.com/s-cb%20br%20blk.jpg This is a new saddle they made for endurance riders. They sell them at this website Evolutionary Saddles, The Flex-Panel saddle of the future

Whatever it is, it's not a stock saddle. As already noted, stock saddle poleys come off the pommel (not down where your knees are). I've seen some makers at "rolls" to their saddles and they tend to be lower than stock saddle poleys, because they add them to an existing design rather than design them to come out from the pommel. I personally never trusted the design, because I know the I need to have something at my thighs if I'm working with a new horse that desides to make an honest effort to unseat me. The stock saddle is the only saddle I've never been unseated from so while it's not my saddle of choice for distance riding it's the only saddle I like to use during training.

I guess the lower rolls might work to provide more security for certain activities. Not anything I'm familiar with doing. Of course my position on saddles has long been for people to use what they feel best on as long as it fits the horse. So if you like the saddle and fits the horse then you've got what you want.

Just of note here, no I played polo-x and that is a saddle I used which belonged to a prominent polo-x 'family' and we all used saddles like that. Perhaps polo-xers use a hybrid polo saddled? I don't know, I was young and really didn't pay a heck of a lot of attention, but I can sure tell you that those are the saddles we used. It makes sense because the Aussie saddles a picking heavy and bulky, this 'Englished' version is much better suited.....but I'm 100% sure.....now I'm hunting for a look alike saddle!

Ok, after much thought.....and doubt....I went online and did a furious search....which led me to military saddles which looked similar with the low thigh bar thingy...and then I saw a couple of pic, but couldn't make it out right....then I found this, not the best angle for the pic, but you get my drift....no wonder your daughter feels secure in it! Scroll down unti you get to the pic of the police officer
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I think this might be a good lead......but I'm adamant we played polo in something similar with those low thigh rolls/knee rolls also.....

Not sure where you're getting these "heavy and bulky" stock saddles. Stock saddle's cantle and pommel may be slightly higher on some of the modern models (like mine), poleys are smaller then the knee rolls. Without the stirrups it's under 19 lbs. While it's not "light" compared to a good endurance saddle it's certainly not what would be called "heavy". Even the stripped down McClellan weighed 17 lbs.
Less tree will give you less weight, but it also concentrates more pressure on the horse's back.

This is my 16.5" seat stock saddle. No bulkier than an "English" saddle, but more comfortable.

Ahhhggghhh you know, when I wrote - bulky and heavy, I knew someone might argue that point....I'm comparing...not bashing.....for instance, you say 17lbs, ok, so that would be a light weight compared to a roping saddle which can weigh 30lbs and up which would be considered heavy and bulky COMPARED to your 17lb saddle....I was comparing...sheesh...
Also, there are some stock saddles which are extremely heavy and bulky....perhaps not your particular saddle, but just like many western saddles - you get the heavy weights and the light weights....I was referring to the heavy weights......

It's possible. I was looking through polo cross catalogs as well. Many do use Aussie saddles. None looked quite like that one, though, with the lower flares. Many polo cross saddles are even more western/Aussie hybrids.