2026 Eligibility Requirements

In 2026 Mustang Challenge and Mustang Classic** will offer both an Adult and Youth division. All interested YOUTH exhibitors must be 9-17 at time of competition and will exhibit in-hand. All ADULT exhibitors must be 18 and older at time of competition and will exhibit under saddle. Youth exhibitors must have a parent or guardian (or other approved adult) locate and adopt/purchase a BLM mustang that they will enter and exhibit.

Keeping in line with our mission of removing BLM mustangs from holding and into private care, only mustangs meeting the following requirements will be eligible to compete in 2026 Mustang Champions competitions:

  • Adopted or purchased at a BLM off-range corral or BLM approved satellite event within the eligibility window of; Oct 1 2025 - May 1, 2026.

  • Adult Division: BLM Mustangs 3 years of age and older at time of adoption or purchase.

  • Youth Division: BLM Mustangs 2 years of age and younger at time of adoption or purchase.  

  • BLM mustangs adopted during the eligibility window and reassigned to a new adopter during the eligibility window.

  • BLM mustangs purchased during the eligibility window and sold or transferred to a new owner during the eligibility window.

  • BLM mustangs adopted or purchased through the BLM Online Corral program and picked up (paperwork finalized and taken possession of) within the eligibility window.

Our goal is to increase adoptions/sales of animals currently in holding. The animal must have been moved from holding into private care through sale or adoption within this eligibility window.

Mustangs matching any of the following statements will NOT be eligible to compete in 2026 Mustang Champions competitions.

  • Wild, free-roaming horses that fall under other government agency management; United States Forest Service, National Park Service, National Forest Service, and others.

  • BLM mustangs enrolled in the Adoption Incentive Program (AIP) are not eligible.

  • BLM mustangs with an adoption or purchase date outside of the eligibility window.

  • BLM Mustangs picked up for or adopted or purchased at the 2026 Mustang Magic competition.

  • BLM Mustangs participating in other BLM funded training or adoption programs (TIP/AIP) are not eligible.

**The Mustang Challenge and Mustang Classic are programs supported through funding from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). At this time, funding for the 2026 events has not yet been approved. Final approval is dependent upon the passage of the federal budget by Congress and subsequent approval of our program proposal by the BLM.

While these steps are still in progress, we remain optimistic and are preparing for another incredible year of showcasing the talent of trainers and the versatility of the American Mustang. Once funding is confirmed, we will release official announcements regarding competition details. We look forward to building on the success and momentum of past events and sharing these extraordinary horses with even more people in 2026! We hope you will join us.