Buckball was a low-key thing. Something the Apples played around with at family gatherings; where fancy horn 'n feather in-laws could get involved with their Earth type kin.

Nothin' serious...

Then, cuzin Braeburn had ta open his big mouth ta Applejack. That wouldn't have meant nothin', usually...'cept Braeburn wuz bringin' in ringers...

Might've worked, too...'cept Applejack knew some ponies herself...

Then they held that little contest, which kinda broke along the town lines there in Appleoosa...cuz Ponyville showed up ta root 'their team' on...and with everypony watchin'...

Ponies jest don't go in for half-measures...do they...??

(Just a small sample montage of ponies...being nuts...)