this headcanon actually would explain that.

May as well, she is practically the only mother figure Apple Bloom has ever known.

>headcanons

And yet… this episode shows that Applejack has multiple copies of her hat, thus devaluing its sentimental worth (as many people headcanon’d AJ’s hat originally belonging to either parent of hers).

That actually makes sense. She’s definitely has an issue with being overprotective which isn’t normal.