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In college she went on to ride hunters and jumpers while competing on the intercollegiate team at Salem Tiekyo University. In conjunction she received an Associate’s degree in Equine Science and went on to graduate from Rowan University with a Bachelors degree in Accounting and Business Management. As an adult she continued to train in the jumpers with Anne Kursinki while engaged in a successful Music career and Real Estate Business. In 2013 Delia relocated to Palmerton, PA were she has started to build what will ultimately be the Premier Equestrian facility of the Pocono's. The facility offers exceptional care and specializes in training of ponies/horses that are sold as Hunter/Jumpers. Delia enjoys her specialty which is starting young children/horses and developing them into competitive athletes.
In 2011 was an enjoyable year showing green hunter prospect Leon Dax. Leon Dax placed third in year-end standings in the state of Pennsylvania's in the Young Hunter and Low Hunter Division for 2011 after being told the horse would “never make it” as a hunter he was sold to Stony Hill Farm which is home of Olympic Rider James Benedetto. In 2014, Delia was awarded year-end Champion in the P.H.S.A Low Hunter division with Poseidon Del Mar. In 2015, Delia and Poseidon Del Mar placed in year-end PHSA awards for their successful but brief time showing due to his injury. In 2016 Delia successfully started Dragon Fly placing year end Champion PHSA, EPPHA in both the Young and Low Hunter Divisions. In 2017 Delia started focusing on developing young ponies and horses that would go on to be Champions in the USEF national standings.
Since 2018 Delia shifted her focus to coaching/ developing Elliena Apollo and there young stock. The Mother/ Daughter team has gone on to have unprecedented success at the Wellington Equestrian Festival and in the United States Equestrian National Standings with horses they have broke and taken all the way to blue ribbons in the show rings.
Partnerships Opportunities/ Consulting Services
Apollo Farms Ltd offers partnership opportunities on select ponies and horses. With several key international/domestic partners Delia Alvarez-Apollo and her daughter custom select only the best suited young prospects.
If you are looking for the horse of your dreams or always wanted to be a part of the Winner's circle, our programs can help make that possible. In addition there are a multitude of business and tax benefits that can be obtained through a partnership. To schedule a meeting to discuss your goals please contact the office directly at 1-610-900-4120.
"Champion Equestrian teaches a new generation"
By: BY AL ZAGOFSKY TN CORRESPONDENT Published July 07. 2012 09:01AM
Delia Alvarez-Apollo in front of some of the ribbons that she has won. She started riding at the age of seven, became a professional equine trainer five years ago, and opened Apollo Farms Ltd. in May 2012.
With her heart in equestrian showing, jumping and competing, Delia Alvarez-Apollo has opened Apollo Farms Ltd. to teach a new generation of horse lovers how to train for equestrian events.
Apollo, a professional horse trainer for five years, decided to set out on her own, and after searching for the right location, found it in the eastern farmlands of Carbon County. Delia and her husband, Robert, were looking for a move from South New Jersey to the Carbon County area. "We looked at a lot of different properties," she said. "I fell in love with the rolling hills and the overall layout. It's a wonderful property to train on, and has over 40 acres. Their new barn has a 15-foot aisle and 12-by-12 matted stalls. The facility boasts a five-acre hunter derby grass course, a 100-foot-by-200 foot ring with all weather footing, a 60-foot-by- 100-foot short stirrup ring, and a 125-foot-by-200-foot grass ring, and this is only the work that they have completed during their first phase of construction.
For guests, they offer accommodations in a handcrafted log cabin, with access to a meandering trail along the boundary of the 40-acre property. "It's a really unique property, Apollo said. "We really fell in love with it."
Apollo Farms offers riding lessons for beginner riders through advanced riders. "We teach all types of riders," she noted. "For instance, we teach therapeutic riding. We've had several kids with ADD and mild disabilities." What most excites Delia is introducing young children to riding. She started her daughter, Elliena, at the age of two. It's important to get the kids to jump before they even learn to canter," she explained. "Because if you start kids when they are little, they just don't have a notion of fear. They learn everything and go with it. That's what makes them so good." Delia wished she had started riding when she was two years old, but alas, she didn't get into the saddle until the ripe old age of seven. "I started riding with a great trainer, Wendy Klein, who taught me a lot. Then I was lucky enough to ride with George Morris-considered the best rider of all time."
As an adult, Delia rode with five-time Equestrian Olympic Jumper Anne Kursinski. "She is regarded as the best all time woman rider," Delia noted. More recently, she's been working with hunter rider Lisa Stackow. Delia alternates her training between hunters and jumpers. "Hunters is a discipline judged on suitability of the horse, precision, and a certain amount of stride and pace," she said. "It's all very technical and based on the judgment of the judges. "Jumpers, although technical, is judged basically by the clock," she continued. "As long as you get a fast time and a clear round, which means no rails down, you are judged on time compared to the other riders."
Apollo Farms is beginning to attract students. Delia hopes to attract kids from five to 18 years old for a weekday summer camp. "The kids get to learn about all aspects of the care of the horses," she explained. "They get to ride every day."
Besides teaching, Delia trains horses. She loves fixing horses that are hard to manage." "I love horses," Delia said. "They are a huge part of my life. Riding is such a unique activity. You are always met with different challenges. It's a really rewarding experience.
With the opening of Apollo Farms, Delia is looking forward to her dream, "to be able to share the gift of horses with other people."
