Before there was Applejack there was…. APPLEJACK? Ee-yup, I got the legal thumbs up to keep at least one OG name. Yeehaw! While developing MLP I was always looking for opportunities to lean into iconic horse tropes, and AJ seemed fit to represent Western side of equestrian disciplines. (A theme that quickly faded away once production began.) I considered Applejack the “other smart one” - she offered horse sense where Twilight offered book smarts. An under rated character IMHO. I’m always tickled when I meet an Applejack fan!
