The Chronicle of the Horse . The Denver Broncos mascot dances on the field before the game of the Los Angeles Raiders against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium on December 8, 1985 in Denver, Colorado. Thunder III is a 16-year-old Arabian gelding, registered as Me N Myshadow. Behind The Stall Door With: Millfield Lancando. The first Thunder was a stallion, and had the ego to match. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. One of the first stops on President Damani Leech's eventual journey to Denver was as an NCAA intern in Indianapolis. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. [2][8] Magness-Blake replaced him with Thunder II,[2] a 1994 Arabian gelding registered as Winter Solstyce. Thunder III also made appearances in Times Square and on television morning news shows in New York City as part of the pre-game promotion for Super Bowl XLVIII. [4], The first horse trainer for JB Kobask as Thunder was Tom Hudson,[4] the trainer for Magness Arabians at the time. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. He was transported to the east coast in a FedEx cargo plane,[32] designed and equipped by Dutta Corporation specifically for transporting horses. Intentionally putting on Thunders coat inside-out with the tags showing has helped the team win games before, according to his trainer and rider, Ann Judge. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," Steve Atwater, Orlando Franklin and Alexis Perry discuss the directionin which the franchise is headed with Owner and CEO Greg Penner leading the search for the Broncos' next head coach.Also, Atwater and Franklin explain what fans might be able toexpect asInterimHeadCoachJerryRosburgfacesKansas City head coach Andy Reid and the Chiefsin his first game with the reins, as well as which Broncos players needto step upon New Year's Dayfor the Broncos to snap their 14-game losing streak to the Chiefs. The original "Thunder", JB Kobask, was loaned to the Denver Broncos by Sharon Magness-Blake of Magness Arabians after she received a phone call from team officials asking if she had a "white" horse. *An asterisk before the name of an Arabian horse indicates that the horse was imported to the United States. On this edition of "Broncos: A-to-Z," Alexis Perry and Zac Stevens discuss some of the most glaring issues on display as Denver droppeditseighth game of the seasononSunday against Carolina. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Required fields are marked *. These mascots, from Miles the Horse to Thunder II, have been a vital part of the Broncos experience and will continue to provide fans with fun and excitement for many years. Curiously, Huddles, who was a horse on two legs, has a curious backstory. [4] He had been trained to rear on command. Broncos TV - January 2016. [28], Thunder has other duties off the field, and has appeared at many public exhibitions and charity functions in the Denver area, including visits to schools and hospitals. [53], Thunder III had been trained specifically for the role of Thunder, beginning at age three when Judge first started working with him under saddle. Thunderis the stage namefor the horsewho is the official live animal mascotfor the Denver Broncosfootball team. "Thunder before the storm: Denver Broncos mascots prepare for big day miles away from players", "Denver Broncos Mascot Returns to the Field After Colorado State Equine Surgeon Repairs Injury", "Pet Tales: Watch for Broncos' horse on Sunday", "Retired Broncos mascot, Thunder Sr., died", "The 'Year of the Horse' Just Might Result in a Lombardi Trophy for a Special Arabian Horse", "Mile High Mascots: Thunder, the real live Denver Bronco", "Broncos will get a kick out of Thunder's charge tonight", "ESPN The Magazine gets "Thunder"struck by Broncos' mascot", "North Salem company charged with transporting Broncos mascot", "Q&A: The Woman Riding Herd Over Broncos' Thunder", "The Bronco Nation Bids Farewell to Thunder", "Meet Thunder, the Denver Broncos' Mascot at the National Western Stock Show (story and video)", "Behind The Stall Door With: Thunder, The Denver Broncos Mascot", "Did Thunder need an IV? The horses were, not surprisingly, huge Broncos fans. [1] Me N Myshadow is sired by Monarch AH out of a *Gondolier daughter, making him a distant cousin to Winter Solstyce. Copyright 2023 Denver Broncos. The game was in New York, Thunder II was 20 years old, and Judge didnt want Dos flying across the country in bad weather. [4] During a February 4, 1997 press conference introducing the new logo, the team president and the art director for Nike, creators of the new design, described it as "a powerful horse with a fiery eye and mane. To get the maximum of it, hang floor-to-ceiling curtains made of thick fabric., There are plenty of sightings in the thumb of Michigan. "Super Bowl XXXII: The Revenge Tour" is a one-hour documentary special celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Denver Broncos' first world championship. Since its establishment in 1960, the Denver Broncos have had two official mascots, and these two Thunderbolts have created quite a stir. Thunder the horse was to be retired, Miles is the dressed up mascot and Bucky is the name of the Horse statue that resides ontop of the stadium. "Oh my gosh.". All Rights Reserved. [55] He is people friendly and has been described as "social" and "quite the poser". For Judge, whose ridden Arabs since she was 12, it doesnt surprise her at all. ABC News - February 2016. Started by Bourne? The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. The original Thunder watched every play. [4][20] He was a son of the reserve U.S. National Champion Arabian Stallion GG Jabask, and a grandson of the Polish-bred Arabian *Bask,[b] a multiple U.S. National Champion after his importation to the United States. Did A Strange Michigan Bigfoot Sighting Happen In The Thumb? "[19] On one occasion, a person walked out unexpectedly in front of Thunder as he was leading the players onto the field. [4] Following the death of her husband in November 1996, Magness-Blake downsized the horse operation and by 2014 owned about 15 horses. 18th Sep, 2022. Super Bowl 50championRyan Harris breaks down a fewgame-changingplaysfromdown the stretch and points out ways the Broncos can improveagainst the Jets. [24], In early 2014, Thunder was again granted permission by the NFL to appear at Super Bowl XLVIII. However, he did not appear in person as a mascot until 2 years later. Together, adorned in blue and orange, the duo adds full-speed elegance to the hard-nosed game of football. The Denver Broncos Aug 2021 - Present 1 . [13] He may also make a run after a field goal, but not a safety. Quantity. Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a horse head mask atop a Broncos uniform. He became known as Thunder III, a 2000 Arabian gelding registered as Me N Myshadow. [4] Angela Moore, his rider at the time,[5] galloped him down the field after each Broncos touchdown. . More than 20 of the Broncos' biggest stars including Hall of Famers John Elway, Terrell Davis and Steve Atwater come together to relive some of the best moments throughout the 1997 season and detail what it was like to finally hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Next came the traditional presentation of colors Sharon Magness Blake circling the arena floor on Thunder, mascot of the Denver Broncos, as a recording of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the. Select from premium Mascot Thunder of the highest quality. He is a regular at . Finally, for more than a quarter-century, the Denver Broncos mascots have added entertainment and shenanigans to the games. Thunder is a collectible Hand-Crafted Breyer Model Horse Thunder was sidelined in late August with a knee injury, after a close encounter of . Ann Judge rides Denver Broncos live mascot Thunder across the field after a Denver Broncos score during a game between the Denver Broncos and the. His registered name was JB Kobask, but the stallion was given the stage name Thunder for his mascot duties. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. It was a snowy Sunday evening -- January 31, 1999, to be exact -- when a big flash of lightning split the blue and orange sunset sky. She is an accomplished equestrian. He is described as laid-back, preferring to doze off during games when not performing. "He definitely looks rejuvenated," Campbell said of his former boss. [56] In 2018, another horse, foaled in 2007,[57] was announced as in training to become Thunder IV, but as of 2021[update] has not been publicly identified.[58]. We're not talking about a guy in a horse costume (although the Broncos have one of those too). Denver Broncos - September 2017. Fabulously spotting Denver Broncos' mascot Thunder, a White Arabian gelding and rider/trainer, Ann Judge-Wegener leaving Times Square after appearing at #Fox. But according to Thunder's rider and trainer, Ann Judge of Bennett, Colorado, Thunder thinks the celebrations are all about him. Custom Content. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," the crew sets the scenefor Denver'sWeek 8showdownwiththe Jacksonville Jaguarsfrom the historic Wembley Stadium in London. [2] Thunder also attended Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami in 1999. [4], Thunder III began his mascot duties as the understudy to Thunder II. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," Alexis Perry, Steve Atwater and Orlando Franklin react to Pat Surtain II's first Pro Bowl nod before breaking down a couple of key plays from Denver's big win over the Cardinals.Also, they look ahead to the Broncos and Rams' Christmas Day game and point out a few key matchups you'll want to keep a close eye on as Denver looks forasecondstraight win. [6] The couple, along with two other people, are part of Thunder's ground crew at football games. Thunder made his Mile High debut on Sept. 12, 1993, during a Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers. Thunder II served as the Broncos mascot for 10 years after taking the reins in 2004. [24] Thunder III, age 14 at the time, made the trip because of concerns over Thunder II's age (20 years) and the stress some horses experience during air travel. The original Thunder, later named "Thunder Sr.", was described as bold and courageous. For that awe-inspiring Love of Thunder, we have owner Sharon Magness Blake to thank for the gift of reveling in 23 years of special mascot moments. Then, Alexis Perry sits down with undrafted rookie wide receiver Jalen Virgil, who shares some insight into his path to the NFL and breaks down his first touchdown as a Bronco. Miles loves his new home, and the turf management folks appreciate the help he provides keeping the turf nicely trimmed. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He had been the personal pleasure riding horse of Magness-Blake. His only travel companions are Magness Blake, her farm manager Rudy, and Judge as they make the drive to Stanfords infamous Red Barn. Spectators were allowed to interact with Thunder and pet him prior to the game. Coupon. Watch the video above to learn about Thunder in a minute. He was a stallion registered as JB Kobask, a former show horse, who was team mascot for the Broncos from 1993 until his retirement in 2004. They also offer a unique chance for marketing and branding, assisting the club in spreading its message and connecting with supporters on a personal level. Then, they look ahead to Denver's final game of the 2022 season as the Broncos hope to secure their first divisional win. Ethan is currently an editor and author for outdoorskillz.com and twoverbs.com, Your email address will not be published. [4] Both Thunder II and Thunder III are stabled at Judge's farm in Bennett, Colorado. [16][17] Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a horse head mask atop a Broncos uniform. [18] The day after his arrival in Newark, New Jersey,[33] Thunder was hauled into New York City for television appearances on Today,[34] and Fox & Friends. Showing Editorial results for denver broncos. "[4], Magness-Blake owned all three of the Arabian horses that portrayed Thunder. Thunder and his rider also interact with fans before the game; the horse is particularly popular with children, who are allowed to pet him. The remainder of his lineage traces back to the Arabian horse breeding programs of Poland and Russia. The Denver Broncos organization and our Denver community were forever changed on April 22, 2010, when the Broncos selected Georgia Tech wide receiver Demaryius Thomas in the first round of the NFL Draft. The secluded, private ranch on Triple Creek Ranch Road in Silverthorne, Colorado, is located about a 90-minute drive west of Denver, 30 minutes from the Kremmling airport and just 10 minutes to I-70. Thunder I was the team's first mascot from 1993 until 1996, and he was succeeded by Thunder II, who has been bringing the thunder since 1997. On this edition of "Broncos Country Connected,"ILB Alex Singleton details his path to Denver and shares his mental approach while preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time this season. Although Thunder II was still active as team mascot during the 201314 season, Thunder III was sent to Super Bowl XLVIII because he was younger and better able to handle air travel. The fans of Broncos Country showed up in force and were loud all game against Houston. Three purebred Arabians have held this role since 1993, all gray horses whose coats lightened with age until they turned completely white.Thunder (mascot) [22], Magness-Blake said one of the most dangerous parts of Thunder's job is at the beginning of the game when he leads the team onto the field, as there are cheerleaders ahead of him waving their pom-poms and a team of excited football players behind him.