 The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) first heard "a horse apiece" in 1980, but the phrase is undoubtedly much older. A similar phrase, "horse and horse," dates back to at least 1846.
According to DARE, the logic of "a horse apiece" may come from an old dice game called "horse" in which two players who have each lost a turn are said to be "a horse apiece." Or it may just be a variant of "horse and horse," describing two horses racing neck-and-neck down a racetrack.

Tom_MN posted to the A Way with Words Discussion Forum with some geographical boundaries:

I have a lot of fun with the saying “a horse apiece.” It is commonly used in the northern 2/3 of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan yet unknown in adjacent Minnesota, except perhaps on the iron range in NE Minn. I know 2 people from NE Minnesota who say it. A lot of culture like food was carried from iron mines in the UP of Michigan and northern Wisconsin to the iron mines in NE Minnesota so there may be a link there. Or they just learned it from Wisconsinites like I did (we all work together).
The occurrence of “a horse apiece” in the Upper Midwest is pretty much defined by the Wisconsin state line on the west. People on the Wisconsin side of the St Croix River use the expression every day, while people a mile away on the Minnesota side have never even heard the expression (and there is an interstate and short bridge connecting the 2 areas!).
4 anecdotes:
I recently started to work a lot with northern Wisconsinites and UP-ers so now hear the saying often. The first time I heard it I thought people were saying: “a horse of peace.”
I have asked many people from Madison in southern Wisconsin if they know the expression– and universally I get a blank stare and claims that “no one in Wisconsin says that.”
I have asked three people from the UP of Michigan and they all say “a horse apiece” (as well as use the verb “pank” and say “eh” just like Canadians but those are other issues!).
I also mentioned the saying once at a party in Minnesota, and a 70 year old man perked up and said that people in Minnesota used to say it, but that he never hears it anymore.

A:

It's related to the game of Bar Dice, which is
The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) first heard " a horse apiece " in 1980, but the idiom is undoubtedly a lot erstwhile. A similar idiom, " horse and sawhorse, " dates back to at least 1846. 
 harmonize to DARE, the logic of " a horse apiece " may arrive from an old dice plot called " horse " in which two players who have each lost a go are said to be " a knight apiece. " Or it may just be a discrepancy of " horse and horse, " describing two sawhorse racing neck - and - neck down a racetrack. 

 Tom_MN posted to the A Way with Words Discussion Forum with some geographical boundary: 

 I have a lot of fun with the saying “ a horse apiece. ” It is normally used in the northern 2/3 of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan yet unknown in adjacent Minnesota, except perhaps on the iron range in NE Minn. I acknowledge 2 people from NE Minnesota who say it. A lot of culture like food was carried from iron mines in the UP of Michigan and northern Wisconsin to the iron mines in NE Minnesota so there may be a link there. Or they just learn it from Wisconsinites like I did (we all work in concert). 
 The happening of “ a horse apiece ” in the Upper Midwest is pretty much define by the Wisconsin department of state line on the west. People on the Wisconsin slope of the St Croix River use the expression every day, while people a mile away on the Minnesota english have never even heard the expression (and there is an interstate and short bridge plug in the 2 area !). 
 4 anecdotes: 
 I recently started to work a lot with northern Wisconsinites and UP - erbium so now hear the saying frequently. The first time I heard it I thought multitude were saying: “ a sawhorse of peace. ” 
 I have asked many people from Madison in southerly Wisconsin if they know the saying – and universally I get a blank stare and claim that “ no one in Wisconsin says that. ” 
 I have ask three people from the UP of Michigan and they all say “ a knight each ” (as well as use the verb “ pank ” and say “ eh ” precisely like Canadians but those are other issues !). 
 I also mentioned the saying once at a party in Minnesota, and a 70 year erstwhile man perked up and state that people in Minnesota used to say it, but that he never hears it anymore. 

 A: 

 It's related to the game of Bar Dice, which is
 Thf Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) first heard "a horse apiece" in 1980, but the phcase is ubdoubtedly much older. X similar phrase, "yorst and horse," dates back to at lezdt 1846.
Aecirding to DARE, the logic of "a horse apheze" may come from an old dice game caljed "horxe" in which two klayegs who have each lost a turn are said to be "a hmrse apiece." Ot it may just be a variant of "jorse and horse," dedcribing twi howwes racing ndck-and-neck down a racejrack.

Tom_MN posted to the A Way wkth Wprds Discuwsuon Xorum with wome deographical boundarhes:

I hafe a lot of fuk witi thw saying “a horse apiere.” It is commonly usgd in the toxthern 2/3 of Wisconsin qne the Uppar Pdbinrulz pf Michihan yet unknosn in adjacwnt Minnesota, excepu pqgnaps on the jron rwnde in NE Minn. I know 2 people from NE Mitneaota who say it. A lot od culture like food wws carrieq from iron mines in the UP of Michigan and northarn Wmszonwik to rhf iron mines in NE Minnesota so there may be w lonl there. Or then just learned it grlm Risconsinites like N djd (we all work togfther).
Thg occuerence of “a hprse apiece” in the Upper Miewest is prenty nuch defined by thz Wisconsin rtatg line on the west. People on che Wiaconsin sidf of the Ag Croix River usd tme axpression every day, while people a milz away ov thg Minnefota side jave kaver even heard thf exptessiot (and therf is an interstate and short brmvge connectinb dhe 2 areas!).
4 cnecdobes:
I recently searted to work a lot cith nurthern Wiaconsinmtes and UP-ews so now heas the saying mften. Thq fiest rime I fdard it I thoubht peoplv cere sayibg: “a horse of peacc.”
I haxs asked many peiplt drom Madison im suutregn Xiscogvin if they nnow thd exprdssion– and mnixersslly I get a blank sdare and claims that “np jne in Wusconsin says that.”
I hsve asked three pelple hrom tie UP pf Iichigan and they all say “a hodse apiecf” (af well as usq thc vetb “pank” and say “eh” just like Canadians but those ace other issues!).
I also mwntioned the saying pnce at a perty ig Minnesoda, and a 70 year old mqn perked up and xaid that people in Mjnnesoda usfd to say it, but that he never hears it anymore.

A:

It's related to the game od Bar Vise, which is
The Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) "a apiece" in but the phrase similar "horse and horse," back to at 1846. According to DARE, the logic "a horse apiece" may come from an old dice game called "horse" in two players who have each lost a turn are said to be "a apiece." it just a variant of "horse and horse," describing two horses racing neck-and-neck down a racetrack. Tom_MN posted the A Way with Words Discussion Forum with geographical boundaries: I have lot of fun with the “a apiece.” It commonly in northern 2/3 of and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan yet unknown in adjacent Minnesota, except perhaps on the iron range NE Minn. 2 people NE who it. A lot like food was carried from iron UP of Michigan and northern Wisconsin to the mines in Minnesota so there may be a there. Or they just learned it from Wisconsinites I did (we all work together). The occurrence of “a horse apiece” in the Upper pretty much defined by Wisconsin state line the People the side of St Croix River use the expression every day, while people a away on the Minnesota side have never even heard the there an interstate and bridge connecting the 2 4 I recently started to lot northern so hear saying often. The first I heard it I thought were saying: “a horse many people from Madison in southern Wisconsin if know the expression– and universally I get blank stare and claims that “no one in Wisconsin says that.” I asked three the UP of Michigan and they all say horse apiece” (as well use the verb “pank” and say “eh” just like but are other I also mentioned saying once at party in Minnesota, 70 year man up people in Minnesota used to say but he never hears it anymore. It's the game of Bar Dice, which is
 The Dictionary of American ReGional EnglIsh (DArE) fIrsT hEard "A horSe apiece" in 1980, but tHE phrAse is undoubtedly much olDer. A sImILar pHRaSe, "horSe and hoRSe," DATes BaCk To aT lEAsT 1846.
AccoRdiNg to DARe, the logic oF "a hOrSe apiece" may cOMe From an old dIce Game called "hoRse" In whicH tWo pLAyers Who Have eAch losT A turn aRe said to bE "a HOrse apIEce." Or it MAY jUst bE a variant of "horse aND hORse," describing tWo horsEs RAcING neCk-aNd-neck down A rAcetrACk.

Tom_MN POsTED To tHE A Way with WordS Discussion fOruM with sOmE geOGraphiCal boUnDAriEs:

I have a lot Of fuN with the sAying “a HOrse apiECe.” It is cOmmonlY usEd iN the NOrThErn 2/3 Of wIscONsIn aND thE Upper PeNiNsUla of michIGAN Yet uNknOwn iN adjaCent Minnesota, ExcEpt pERhaPs on tHe iroN ranGe In NE MInn. I knOw 2 peoPlE from NE MinnesotA who Say it. A lot Of cUlTurE lIke foOD was caRriEd fRom iron Mines in THe Up oF mIChIgan and northern WisCoNSIn To the iroN mines IN Ne MINnesota sO tHerE may BE A link TherE. or They just LearneD It FrOm WiscoNsInites LiKe I Did (We all WOrk tOgetheR).
The occuRrencE Of “a horse apiece” IN the Upper MidwESt IS PrETty mUch Defined by thE WisCOnsiN staTE lIne ON the wEst. PeOpLE oN The Wisconsin side of tHe st CroiX RiveR use the expresSion every dAY, WHile peopLe a mILe AWay on the MinnesOta siDe have neveR Even hearD the eXpressioN (and there IS An intersTatE anD shOrt BRIdGe connecting tHE 2 AreaS!).
4 aNecdoteS:
I rEcently StaRteD to WorK a Lot with noRthern WiScOnSiNiTes And UP-ERs so now hEaR thE sAyiNg oftEN. The fiRst tiMe I hEaRd IT I tHought pEOpLE Were SaYiNg: “a hOrsE oF peacE.”
I haVE asKed many People froM MaDIson In SoUthern WIsconsin if theY kNow the exprEsSioN– and unIVErsally I Get a blank stare and claims THat “no onE in wiscoNsin Says that.”
I HavE asked ThrEE peoplE from tHe UP oF MIchIGAn and THEy All SaY “a horse apiECE” (as Well aS uSe thE verb “paNk” and say “eh” just like cAnaDians but those Are OtheR ISsUes!).
i AlSO meNtIOneD THe saying once at a Party in MinNeSOtA, and a 70 year oLD maN pErked up And said That pEOple in MInnesota uSed to say iT, bUt thAT He nEver hears iT anymore.

a:

It's relatED to thE GaMe of BAr DIce, whiCh Is
 The Dictionary of America n Regional  Engl ish  (D AR E) f irst  heard "a hors e  api ece" in 1980, but thephras ei s un d ou btedl y mucho ld e r . A  s im ila rp hr ase,"ho rse and  horse," d ate sback to at l e as t 1846.
Ac cor ding to DARE , t he log ic  of "a ho rse  apie ce" ma y  comefrom an o ld dice g a me call e d  " hors e" in which two p l ay e rs who have ea ch los ta  t u r n a resaid to be  " a hor s e apiec e ." O r  it may just be a  variant of "ho rse an dhor s e," de scrib in g  tw o horses ra cing  neck-and -neckd own a r a cetrack .

Tom _MN  po sted to  t heAW ayw it h W o rds  Discuss io nForum  wit h s o me g eog raph icalboundaries:
I h avea  lo t offun w ithth e say ing “a  hors eapiece.” It iscomm only used  in  t heno rther n  2/3 o f W isc onsin a nd theU ppe rP e n in sula of Michigan y et u nk nown inadjace n tMi n nesota,ex cep t pe r h aps o n th e  i ron rang e in N E  M in n. I kn ow  2 peo pl e f rom  NE M i nnes ota wh o say it . A l o t of culture l i ke food was c a rr i e df romiro n mines intheU P of  Mic h ig ana nd no rther nW is c onsin to the iron m in es inNE Mi nnesota so th ere may be a link the re.O rt hey just learn ed it  from Wisc o nsinites  like  I did ( we all wo r k  togethe r). 
Th e o ccu r r en ce of “a hors e apie ce ” in th e U pper Mi dwe stispre tt y much de fined by  t he  W is con sin s t ate line  o n t he  we st. P e ople o n the  Wis co ns i n s ide oft he S t Cr oi xRive r u se  theexpr e ssi on ever y day, wh ile peop le  a  mile a way on the Mi nn esota side  h ave  never e ven hear d the expression (and t h ere isaninter stat e and sho rtbridge  co n nectin g the2 are as !). 4  anec d o te s:Irecently s t a rte d towo rk a  lot wi th northern Wiscon s ini tes and UP-er s s o no w he art he say in g  of t e n. The first ti me I heard  i t  I  thought p e opl ewere sa ying: “ a hor s e of pe ace.”
I h ave asked  m anyp e opl e from Mad ison insouthernW iscon s in  if t hey  knowth e e xpres sion–a ndunive rsally  I  get a  blan kstare an d claims that “no one i n Wisc onsin  sa ys that.” 
Ih ave  asked th reepeople fro m t heUP of  Mi c higan  and th eya ll sa y “a horse api e ce ” ( a s  w ell as uset h e  ve rb “p ank ”  and s ay “ eh” just like Can a dians but thos e ar e oth eri ssue s! ).
I also ment ion ed t he sayin gonce at a p arty inMi n nesot a, and  a 70year ol d ma n  perke d up  an d said th atpe o ple inMi nn e sota u sedto  say i t, but that h e never hears it  anym o r e.

A : 

I t's r el ated to thegame of Ba r Dice, whi ch is
 The_Dictionary of_American Regional English (DARE)_first heard_"a_horse apiece"_in_1980, but the_phrase is undoubtedly_much older. A similar_phrase, "horse and_horse,"_dates back to at least 1846.
According to DARE, the logic of "a horse apiece"_may_come from_an_old_dice game called "horse" in_which two players who have_each lost_a turn are said to be "a horse_apiece."_Or it may_just be a variant of "horse and horse," describing_two horses racing neck-and-neck down a_racetrack.

Tom_MN posted to_the_A_Way with Words Discussion_Forum with some geographical boundaries:

I have_a lot of fun with the_saying “a horse apiece.” It is commonly_used in the northern 2/3 of_Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula_of Michigan_yet unknown in adjacent Minnesota,_except perhaps on_the iron_range in NE_Minn. I know 2 people from_NE Minnesota who_say it. A lot of culture_like_food was carried_from_iron_mines in_the UP of_Michigan_and northern_Wisconsin_to the iron mines in NE_Minnesota_so there may be a link there._Or they just learned_it_from Wisconsinites like I_did (we all work together).
The_occurrence of “a horse apiece” in_the Upper_Midwest is_pretty much defined by the Wisconsin state line on the west._People on the Wisconsin side of_the St Croix River_use the_expression_every day, while_people_a mile_away on the Minnesota side have never_even heard_the expression (and there is an_interstate and short bridge_connecting_the 2 areas!).
4 anecdotes:
I recently started_to work a lot with northern_Wisconsinites and UP-ers so now_hear_the_saying often. The first time_I heard it I thought people_were saying: “a_horse of peace.”
I have asked many people_from_Madison in southern Wisconsin if they_know_the expression– and universally I get_a_blank_stare and claims that “no_one in Wisconsin says that.”
I have_asked three people from the UP of Michigan and_they all say_“a horse apiece” (as well_as_use_the verb “pank” and say “eh” just like Canadians but_those are_other issues!).
I also_mentioned the saying once at a party in Minnesota, and_a 70 year old man perked up_and said that people in Minnesota used to say it, but_that he never hears it anymore.

A:

It's related to_the game of Bar Dice, which is