Hmm... you know, I might be off the mark, but I think a factor might be that, unlike most of those reference pictures, your Applejack is standing in a fleshed-out environment rather than an abstract blank space. Putting detail into the background creates things for the viewer to notice besides the character.



But I think a greater issue is how the tip of the sword nears the corner. That's what really draws my eye. It's similarly noticeable in some of those pictures you linked to. The better examples (at least to my perspective) are the ones where the sword tip aims more towards one of the flat sides of the frame. When it nestles in an intersection it tends to distract me, like a tangent. The impression is similar to a pole propping up a tent. If Applejack's sword were dipping downward or upward toward the side or the sky, I wouldn't mind lengthening the picture wider or higher. It would, I believe, create a more "organic" composition. Not sure if that's the right word.



Anyway, I offer this only as constructive criticism. It's still a great picture. Applejack's armor is gorgeous. You're very talented!