Yellow Horse (Horse)

I've got two of these, medium and large, pale yellow-green with small faint peach blush. They are round, with flattened tops and bottoms, those of the larger one especially so. ¶ 

Flyspeck and a few small bruises join many filled grey lenticels decorating the peel. They do not come from a big industrial orchard. These apples have a lovely sweet aroma.

Have a bite. Have two

Horse has the makings of a well-flavored apple, with sugar and tart fighting it out in the first bite. Alas mine have been off the tree too long. Both are soft; the smaller one is on its way to mealy.

They have off-yellow flesh bearing flavors of vanilla and, perhaps, pineapple, and some grain and berries. The larger one is is slightly better shape and the acidity is more prominent.

This feels like a missed opportunity, as the texture is not really up to snuff, but I think I've captured most of the flavors. Those are quite good.

Jesse Downs sent me these from Wisconsin. Thanks Jesse! He says these are "a big deal down south."

Indeed, many of the online sources quote the account of Yellow Horse by Century Farms Orchards of Reidsville, NC,  locating the apple's origins in that region before 1800.

Lee Calhoun (Old Southern Apples, Chelsea Green Publishing, 2010) has an extensive review starting on page 91.