Even behind enemy lines, Broncos Country was loud and proud at Arrowhead Stadium. He became known as Thunder III, a 2000 Arabian gelding registered as Me N Myshadow. 7400 Orchard Road, Suite 230 Englewood, CO 80111 Phone: 303-796-8881 Email: info@thunderandco.com Copyright 2023 Denver Broncos. Thunderis the stage namefor the horsewho is the official live animal mascotfor the Denver Broncosfootball team. Denver Broncos - September 2017. Per Thunder's official media bio, the original Thunder, KB Kobask, was the mascot for 11 years before he retired at the beginning of 2004. [38], For Super Bowl 50, Thunder III was trailered to San Francisco, a two-day trip that took four days because of ice and snow, further complicated by a 24-hour closure of I-80. What Miles loves most of all are the days when the Broncos are playing at the stadium, because then he gets to cheer on his favorite team and meet all his fellow fans! All Rights Reserved. All Rights Reserved. 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. The Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge-Wegener - Denver Broncos History The Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge-Wegener The Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge-Wegener is seen on the playing field during the NFL AFC Championship playoff football game Then one day he spotted such a field from high in the mountains, way down in the city of Denver. Denver Broncos fans are no strangers to the legendary players whove donned the orange and blue, but what about the mischievous Denver Broncos mascot whos added an extra dose of humor and hootenanny to the field? As we speak, Thunder is on a Fedex cargo plane, on his way to the Super Bowl. With his high-flying acrobatics and antics, this mascot brings a new level of excitement to every game. Broadcast The story of Thunder, the Denver Broncos' live mascot May 01, 2020 The history of how Thunder, the Broncos' live mascot, became part of the Broncos' game-day experience and one of the most recognizable mascots in the NFL. He is loaded into a horse trailer and hauled out of the stadium at the two-minute warning. Since 1993 there have been four horses that have earned the honor to be called THUNDER. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," canthe Broncos'offense overcome the Jets' stout defense to snap their three-game losing streak? One last thinglets address the elephant in the room. "He definitely looks rejuvenated," Campbell said of his former boss. He is a regular at . Miles the Mascot Aug 08, 2018 at 02:18 PM Not long ago, high in the Rocky Mountains, an amazing thing occurred in the great history of Broncos football. He retired from mascot duties in early 2014 but appeared in the 2016 Super Bowl 50 victory parade in downtown Denver following the Broncos win over the Carolina Panthers. Peyton Manning's 509 Touchdown Pass - NFL Network 2014. Thunder is the stage name for the horse who is the official live animal mascot for the Denver Broncos football team. The horses were, not surprisingly, huge Broncos fans. [8][33][41] She grew up poor in Philadelphia, and did not ride a horse until she was 20 years old. . [13], The horses who have served as Thunder have been trained to remain calm in situations that would normally cause a horse to respond with a fight-or-flight response, such as the flashing explosions of a pyrotechnic display, or items suddenly landing on the field including skydivers with parachutes and various objects thrown by spectators, or loud music and the sounds associated with tens of thousands of cheering fans at Mile High. Thunder was sidelined in late August with a knee injury, after a close encounter of . Ann Judge Wegener rides Thunder prior to the game between the Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on Sept. 23, 2013. . [12] Ann Judge has also remarked about the team getting "amped up" with energy and excitement as Thunder leads them onto the field, explaining that "To him, amped up means danger. For the next year, Miles lived high in the Rockies with all of the other wild animals. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NFL Team Denver Broncos Tee Shirt Adult XL Miller 58 Football Graphic Athletic at the best online prices at eBay! Thunder II served as the Broncos mascot for 10 years after taking the reins in 2004. On this edition of "Broncos A to Z," Alexis Perry and Zac Stevens discuss the details of Denver's trade with the Miami Dolphins and the Broncos' confidence in their current group of edge defenders. Times Square isnt the only unusual place Thunder III has been. [49] Nicknamed "Dos" by Judge, Thunder II has been described as somewhat timid with a more subdued personality than his predecessor. [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. Horses represent power, strength, freedom, agility, and fighting spirit, the most crucial things youll need in the NFL. [4], Thunder II would look attentively with his ears forward, seemingly on cue, for his picture to be taken whenever a photographer pointed a camera at him. Cheerleaders Thunder - Denver Broncos Mascot 1 / 14 2 / 14 3 / 14 4 / 14 5 / 14 6 / 14 7 / 14 8 / 14 9 / 14 Part of Thunder's training schedule is a trail ride. With his fun antics and crazy shenanigans, this horse entertainment added a whole new level of excitement to the games. Thunder is a purebred Arabian gelding that, according to the Denver Broncos, "displays his impressive canter from one end zone to the other," when the team makes a scoring drive or touchdown. For 30 years the Denver Broncos have been led into the field, at every home game, by a majestic Arabian horse called Thunder. Thunder, provided by Thunder Spirit LLC of Denver, will be entering his 5th year during the Broncos' 2018 campaign. 9News - January 2016. The horse reflects the enthusiasm and excitement that Denver Broncos fans have grown to know and love, from his death-defying antics to his upbeat disposition. They taught Miles all about the great Broncos traditions and the great players who had carried the team to numerous wins and two world championships. [15] Thunder's helpers also remove any manure that he might drop while on the field. [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. Part of Thunder's training schedule is a trail ride. 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. [23], Thunder appears primarily at home games, but has been transported out-of-state when the Broncos played in the Super Bowl. IE 11 is not supported. [1] Me N Myshadow is sired by Monarch AH out of a *Gondolier daughter, making him a distant cousin to Winter Solstyce. Then, they look back at the Broncos' Week 8 win over the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium before rookie tight end Greg Dulcich shares some insight into what clicked for the Broncos' offense, especially in the second half, to help the Broncos snap their four-game losing streak. Finally, hear some of the best sound bites from some of the Broncos' most vocal leaders from over the past month. It's because of them that an Arabian horse is a face for philanthropy. Hancock, who was a senior in high school at the time, was Huddles during the 1986 season when Broncos was a finalist of the Super Bowl. He began performing at preseason games in 2013. Showing Editorial results for denver broncos. "If anybody can get that thing turned around out there, it's him.". gallery Photos: Broncos host inaugural Inspire Change Summit to celebrate partners' impact in the community . Super Bowl 50championRyan Harris breaks down a fewgame-changingplaysfromdown the stretch and points out ways the Broncos can improveagainst the Jets. I'm blessed. JERSEY CITY, N.J. Thunder, the Arabian gelding who serves as the Broncos' mascot, will be at MetLife Stadium during the Super Bowl. Not long ago, high in the Rocky Mountains, an amazing thing occurred in the great history of Broncos football. Also, Alexis Perry and Zac Stevensdiscuss the positives from the Broncos' Week 14 effort against the Chiefs and share what you can expect as the Broncos host the Cardinals in Week 15. Ships Free. The evening begins with Denvers most distinct opening tribute. Denver Broncos Football Club. Filling, Copyright 2023 Thumbwind Publications LLC. Denver Broncos mascot Thunder runs on the field before in the first half of the football game between the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans at Empower Field Field in Denver, CO. Derek Regensburger/CSM/Alamy Live News Credit: Cal Sport Media/Alamy Live News. [25] He has a large private box stall located next to the visitor's locker room, and has hay, water and treats,[6][26] including a big basket of carrots and apples. [55] He is people friendly and has been described as "social" and "quite the poser". Some of the fervent members of Broncos Country braved a trip to Oakland on Christmas Eve. Horses have been our most loyal companion for thousands of years, so it is no surprise that we see their presence in horse racing betting games, to teams in big leagues represented by a horse mascot. [4] Angela Moore, his rider at the time,[5] galloped him down the field after each Broncos touchdown. "All the things that I thought coming into the role about this tradition of success and winning and a rabid fan base is true," Leech said. Behind The Stall Door With: Millfield Lancando. For that night, Broncos fans all across the world were too busy cheering on the best team in the nation to their second consecutive Super Bowl title in Miami, Florida. The first Thunder was a stallion, and had the ego to match. Your email address will not be published. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. [50], Thunder III is Me N Myshadow, a 2000 Arabian gelding, and third purebred Arabian to serve as team mascot. [4] As well as his support crew, Thunder has a bodyguard who travels to the games. With each scoring drive, Thunder engages the crowd running full-stride from the south end zone down the center of the field to the north. Thunder is a purebred Arabian gelding that acts as the club's mascot. Men's Nike Orange Denver Broncos Custom Game Jersey. So we can expect Thunder IV soon to be in Broncos games. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Broncos Country made its presence known as the Broncos picked up its second consecutive win. Copyright 2023 Denver Broncos. Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a horse head mask atop a Broncos uniform. Also,theDenver7crew sharesitsthoughts on the final stretch of the season. [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. "Super Bowl XXXII: The Revenge Tour" is a one-hour documentary special celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Denver Broncos' first world championship. Thunder III? Theyalso take a look at some of Denver's most dominant defensive players from overrecentweeks and outline how they might be able to make an impactinWeek 12 in Carolina. Fox 31 Denver - October 2019. As of 2022[update], Thunder has appeared in four Super Bowls. He decided that was where he needed to be. They also touch on the possible return ofoutside linebackerRandy Gregory, how the Cardinals might try to containwide receiverJerry Jeudy and how Denver's defense might be able to shut down Arizona's biggest weapons. [12] Another unexpected event occurred in 2014 during Super Bowl XLVIII when the pyrotechnics display was supposed to have been executed before Thunder led the team out but it went off unexpectedly during his run. The original Thunder watched every play. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. JB Kobask also had a substantial amount of Crabbet breeding in his pedigree. Started by Bourne? Add to Cart. When he arrived, he was shocked and delighted to find that the grass he had seen was that of the greatest stadium in the world and the home of his beloved Broncos, Broncos Stadium at Mile High! Every time the Broncos score a touchdown, Thunder will celebrate with fans by galloping across the gridiron. The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). How this music star is raising awareness about colorectal cancer, Alex Murdaugh sentenced to life in prison for murders of wife, son, Michelle Yeoh on how her mother congratulated her for Oscar nod, Michelle Yeoh: Everything Everywhere cast ended up as family. 2016-2018 Thunder Foundation All rights reserved. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Thunder is a purebred Arabian gelding that acts as the club's mascot. Three purebred Arabians have held this position, all gray horses whose coats lightened with age until they were completely white. [5][19] Ann Judge, also known as Ann Judge-Wegener,[43] became Thunder's rider in 1998. After two years, Miles felt his place wasn't in the mountains any longer. The Denver Broncos are notorious for having thunderstorms throughout the fall and winter that is Thunder storming the field. [2][8] Magness-Blake replaced him with Thunder II,[2] a 1994 Arabian gelding registered as Winter Solstyce. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," the crew sets the scenefor Denver'sWeek 8showdownwiththe Jacksonville Jaguarsfrom the historic Wembley Stadium in London. Broncos mascot Thunder gallops off the field after delivering the game ball to the referee during pregame ceremonies at Invesco Field in Denver, on September. Watch the video above to learn about Thunder in a minute. [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. "Oh my gosh.". [11] Unlike his predecessors, he tends to ignore the antics at football games, preferring to doze off when not performing. [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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. They also share their initial reactions to the Chargers' Week 5 win over the Browns and what they believe the Broncos need to doto get their first divisional win of the season. [4][12][20][30], At Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 in San Diego, Thunder Sr. appeared on the field after touchdowns. "[19] On one occasion, a person walked out unexpectedly in front of Thunder as he was leading the players onto the field. An Arab thats calm, cool, and collected (Judge says she could walk him across the field if she wanted to) doesnt really fit the stereotype. The original Thunder served as the Broncos' mas- cot for 11 years before retiring at the start of the 2004 campaign. When the Denver Broncos run out of the tunnel in Santa Clara, Calif., on Super Bowl Sunday, they'll have a little extra horsepower on their side: Thunder, the team's live mascot for the last two decades. You May Also Like. Rider and trainer Ann Judge-Wegener holds the flag while atop Thunder. ABC News - February 2016. He also appeared at Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. Thunder, the Denver Broncos' mascot, is finally in California, after getting stuck in a winter storm on Interstate 80 in Wyoming. The stallion was notably gentle around children who wanted to pet him. [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. Three purebred Arabianshave held this role since 1993, all gray horseswhose coats lightened with age until they turned completely white. [11] In 2004, she married Ernie Blake, an attorney and the mayor of Breckenridge,[42] who also loves horses. Select from premium Mascot Thunder of the highest quality. Judge said without Thunder or his owner, Sharon Magness Blake, the APAHA award wouldn't have been possible. He once marched right through the kitchen of the Sheraton in downtown Denver to meet President Bill Clinton. They discuss how the Broncos can ignite theiroffenseon Sunday,breakdownthe defensive blueprint for containing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelceand highlight the some of the other key matchups that might impact the outcome of the game. The fans of Broncos Country showed up in force and were loud all game against Houston. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message.