Ken, ya got me. I've never heard it called a horse apple, but AI to the rescue. Apparently the trees were often planted to create natural fences to keep livestock in or out. And since one of the things to be controlled was horses, the fruit was called "horse apple" by some and the name stuck. We always just called them hedge apples, and my mom believed they kept boxelder bugs away, so she have me gather some to put around in the fall. I have no idea if they worked.
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It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so. - Mark Twain.
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