Apollo Farms Ltd, originally started in South Jersey in 2005, and relocated to Palmerton, Pennsylvania in 2013. The farm has been the feature of several media outlets for its successful summer camps, lessons, and community outreach programs. In 2021, the farm shifted focus to the development of young ponies and horses. They would be trained by Delia Apollo and would be shown by Elliena Apollo. Elliena Apollo dominated the show ring, many times being the only Junior rider competing against and winning against professionals. The horses that they produce have won Regional and National USEF titles before being sold to clients that continue their successful careers.
Today the farm continues its outreach program, in addition to the acquisition and training of young stock which is sourced domestically and internationally. 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.
Delia Alvarez-Apollo is proud to have ridden with world renowned trainers such as Nona Garson, Anne Kursinski, and George Morris. She also competed regionally and nationally in the Arabian (Half Arabian) horse show circuit with many accolades. 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 bachelor’s 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
With the unprecedented success of her business development, Miss. Apollo created Apollo Global Consulting. The company is a subsidiary which specializes in brand development and implementation within the Equestrian market sector. Delia A. Apollo has also written several nationally published articles and continues to turn companies’ ambitions into action.
"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."