Wild horse adoption event in Waterloo, Iowa

The Bureau of Land Management will host a wild horse and burro placement event, offering a limited number of excess animals gathered from western rangelands, August 7-8, 2026, at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, IA.
BLM staff will be onsite to provide more information and assist with the adoption application process, or you can submit an application ahead of time at wildhorsesonline.blm.gov/. Bring a printed copy of your approved application if submitted online.
Event schedule:
Friday and Saturday
8 – 10 AM – Viewing period and Online Corral pickups
10:30 AM – Competitive Bid Start
12 – 5 PM – Auction loadouts and Online Corral pickups
To qualify to adopt a wild horse or burro:
Applicants must be at least 18 years old with no record of animal abuse.
Homes must have a minimum of 400 square feet of corral space per animal, with access to food, water, and shelter.
Corral fence must meet height requirements:
Adult horses – 6 feet
Yearlings – 5 feet
Burros – 4.5 feet
Trailers must be stock type, covered, with swing gates and sturdy walls/floors.
More information will be added to this webpage as it becomes available.
For questions about this event, please contact the Northeastern States District Office at BLM_ES_NSDO_WHB@blm.gov or (800) 293-1781.
To learn more about BLM’s Wild Horse and Burro Program, visit www.blm.gov/whb.
View event details on our website: www.blm.gov/announcement/wild-horse-adoption-event-waterloo-iowa