@Flutter_Lover  

 
Pretty much this.

@Background Pony #0BB1  
“But after defeating Gaia Everfree, we discovered that Equestrian magic has been leaking from the other side of the mirror portal. Now our world is growing more dangerous than ever, and I’m the only one fast enough to save it. I am… the Flash!”

“To the outside world, I’m an ordinary high school rockstar, but secretly with the help of my friends from Equestria and Canterlot High, I fight crime and stop Magical entities like me.”

My name is Rainbow Dash, and I am the fastest mare alive.

I gotta go fastttttttttttttttttttttt

@blacksunset 
You always say that!

@Dragonmage 
Destroying the strength machine in “Fall Weather Friends”, stopping a speeding cart dead in “Mysterious Mare Do Well”, or easily lifting a whole bed over her head in “Somepony to watch over me” doesn’t count for anything?

@Philweasel 
“Applejack is one of the consistently strongest characters as pony”
 
^ Lol, no she’s not.

@Philweasel  
And Pinkie Pie is still very much Pinkie Pie.

@Background Pony #596E  
I just looked up a few things about kicking down doors.  
“Check to see which way the door opens by checking the hinges. If the door opens towards you, kicking it down is going to be next to impossible. Kicking a door down is best employed on a door that swings away from you.”
 
Guess which way the door opens?
 
Oh, and I also have to giggle that Rainbow Dash is the one trying to break it down with her shoulder, which that page also states as the worst way to break down a door.
 
And sorry, animation is canon. That was storyboarded and checked by the writing staff before animation, Megan knew all about it. Applejack is one of the consistently strongest characters as pony, why the hell wouldn’t she possess the same attributes as a human? Rainbow Dash is still fast, Fluttershy is still good with animals, Rarity is still a good designer…

@Philweasel  
A side stage door wouldn’t be that tough, not being built for that purpose and on a school budget no less. A strong kick or two would be enough and AJ would be the one to do it.
 
As for the table, like I said, animator inserting that’s apart from the writing. We know animators have done it before (ex:slendermare, fan favorite bg characters) and more fans work for the show later on. For it to be completely intentional means Megan knew even back before the first movie aired where the Eqg series was headed with the powers (still possible). Regardless, AJ not displaying that strength in other scenes in the first movie, the second, or the third movie would make no sense.

@Background Pony #596E  
Knocking down a door is a pretty tall order, depending on how well it’s constructed. As for beating up freaking Snips and Snails… let’s face it, Fluttershy could likely beat up Snips and Snails. Applejack just isn’t a fighter unless she’s absolutely forced to be so.
 
She could however carry a table one handed that two burly guys were struggling with, so she clearly has game gem or no gem.

@Background Pony #596E  
Without her gem, applejack’s strength only works for comedic effect.

@Philweasel  
@Background Human  
AJ was so strong yet couldn’t take out Sunset’s goons or knock down the door trapping them in the second movie because . . . ? Sounds more like an animator adding their own headcanon to the background after the fact.

@Philweasel  
She was pretty stronk in the first movie IIRC. Her magic just makes her Serbia Stronk.

Applejack actually notes she doesn’t have her gemstone on her. She’s just that strong naturally.

@Zharkaer  
She can use her strength without any limiter (Fluttershy, Pinkie); doesn’t need to meet a certain condition (Sunset); or activate her power(Rainbow, Twilight). In that sense AJ is a bit OP.

@Background Pony #596E  
What makes you think AJ’s doesn’t shut off?

I don’t get it: Rainbow has to activate her power but AJ’s never shuts off. That makes no sense.

@Background Pony #9A79  
Sonic: C’mon step it up!

Rainbow Dash: She’s the fastest thing alive!

Hurry Dash! There’s evil afoot!

Hurry, Dash! A Crisis is coming, and you and the other speedsters are the only hope of saving the multiverse!

All I have to do is grab my necklace and I’ll start running at the speed of light!