Judge said Thunder, age 19 at the time, was not tired at all, describing him as "full of spit and vinegar" the next day. As of 2022[update], Thunder has appeared in four Super Bowls. Fan favorite Denver Broncos mascot Thunder will take his turn as Stock Alexis Perry is joined byPro FootballHall of Famer Steve Atwater and former Broncos offensive lineman Orlando Franklin to discuss some of the adjustments the Broncos need to makein Week 7.Then, Atwater and Franklinbreak downa coupleofkey plays from the Broncos' and Jets'Week6 showings and point out some of the key matchups to keep an eye on this Sunday. Extra handlers ensure the safety of the horse and surrounding people. He also appeared at Super Bowl 50 in San Francisco. Then, BroncosVice Presidentof Community Development AllieEngelkenoutlines some of the greatest ways the players and organization havemade an impacton theColorado community and beyond over the past few months. Salmon sushi cups: Get Joy Bauers recipe! [21] Judge signs autographs for about 45 minutes before each game,[27] allowing fans, particularly children, an opportunity to become better acquainted with Thunder. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," canthe Broncos'offense overcome the Jets' stout defense to snap their three-game losing streak? On this edition of "Broncos A to Z," running back Marlon Mack takes us through his 66-yard touchdown against the Chiefs in Week 14. Then, Super Bowl 50champion Ryan Harrisbreaksdown a few plays from the Broncos' Week 12 game against the Panthers and pointsout some of the ways the Broncos can improve with six games remaining on the schedule. Mascot Thunder Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images The original Thunder made regular appearances at events and community functions following his retirement. The Blakes, Thunder in tow, would go to the ranch for some relaxation and horse riding, but at this point, Magness Blake says, "we have a huge life in Denver, and we don't get there as much . Broncos Country made themselves heard at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, during the Broncos' Week 7 win over the Cardinals. 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. The Denver Broncos Mascot - 23-Years of Wild Horse Play [24], In early 2014, Thunder was again granted permission by the NFL to appear at Super Bowl XLVIII. The original Thunder served as the Broncos' mas- cot for 11 years before retiring at the start of the 2004 campaign. Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a horse head mask atop a Broncos uniform. 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. Denver Broncos Mascot Statue. Ann and Thunder show their Broncos spirit. The first Thunder was a stallion, and had the ego to match. With his fun antics and crazy shenanigans, this horse entertainment added a whole new level of excitement to the games. Following every Denver Broncos touchdown, Thunder displays his impressive canter from one end zone to the other. [45] Judge has been described by Broncos' management as an "accomplished equestrian". Well, in that great flash of heat and electricity was born the most amazing and dedicated Broncos fan ever, Miles. "[7], The original Thunder, also known as Thunder Sr., was retired in 2004 after serving 11 years as the team mascot. Denver Broncos Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Images [2] Magness said, "Thunder is friendly, and Broncos fans think it's good luck for the opposing team to pet our mascot". [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. 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. Here's everything you need to know (and probably didn't know) about Thunder, the Denver Broncos mascot.SUBSCRIBE to ABC NEWS: https://www.youtube.com/ABCNews. Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge,. The best way to get the Arabian gelding to . The server responded with {{status_text}} (code {{status_code}}). On this edition of "Broncos A to Z," Alexis Perry and Zac Stevens discuss the decision to waive RB Melvin Gordon III, what the move means for the Broncos' running backs room for the remainder of the season and what the keys to victory are this week in Carolina as the Broncos hope to snap their two-game losing streak. Eventually, he began turning to his handlers anticipating a treat whenever he saw a cheerleader with pom-poms. Thunder - BreyerHorses.com ABC News - February 2016. [20][31] He served as the Broncos mascot for 11 years and was retired in 2004 after developing arthritis, which made it difficult for him to gallop down the field. . He was exposed to a variety of situations, including open horse shows where he could become accustomed to crowds and activity. [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. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Bryson Franck - Flag Runner - The Denver Broncos | LinkedIn Miller told 9NEWS. Thunder made his Mile High debut on Sept. 12, 1993, during a Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers. He was raised by a herd of wild horses and taught how to survive the cold climate and high altitude. [9] He also traveled to appear at Super Bowl 50. A day in the life of the Denver Broncos mascot, Thunder the horse Thunder III is more than a mascot. He retired after the final home game of the 2013 season. Heres everything you need to know (and probably didnt know) about Thunder. [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. Fabulously spotting Denver Broncos' mascot Thunder, a White Arabian gelding and rider/trainer, Ann Judge-Wegener leaving Times Square after appearing at #Fox. Chomps is a dog-like figure, based on the team's Dawg Pound section at FirstEnergy Stadium; Swagger Jr. is a bull mastiff who serves as the Cleveland Browns' newest mascot starting with the 2019 season. Thunder, the Broncos' horse, will gallop during Super Bowl 2014 [19] Like the other horses, though, he dislikes pom-poms and was unsettled when fans in the stadium did the wave. The Denver Post Online: Broncomania Three purebred Arabians have held this role since 1993, all gray horses whose coats lightened with age until they turned completely white. Since its establishment in 1960, the Denver Broncos have had two official mascots, and these two Thunderbolts have created quite a stir. [4] Both Thunder II and Thunder III are stabled at Judge's farm in Bennett, Colorado. [4], Thunder III began his mascot duties as the understudy to Thunder II. Broncos Country was as strong as ever in the Big Apple. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. Now Miles resides at Sports Authority field in Denver, Colorado. 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. He is linebred to the stallion Negatiw, who appears four times in his pedigree. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning joked, "Might have to give ol' Thunder an I.V. "To see a former player come back in the league and be a GM and win a Super Bowl as a player and win a Super Bowl as a GM?" The Denver Broncos' mascot, Thunder, is an Arabian gelding. He was a son of the Polish import *Wiking, an all-time leading sire of Arabian racehorses. He continued making community appearances until his death in 2009. The Denver Broncos Aug 2021 - Present 1 . Copyright 2023 Denver Broncos. He was founded on January 31, 1999, the same day that the Broncos became Super Bowl champions for the second time at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. I'm blessed. Thunder II served as the Broncos mascot for 10 years after taking the reins in 2004. For Judge, whose ridden Arabs since she was 12, it doesnt surprise her at all. Your email address will not be published. Owner Sharon Magness-Blake hugs Thunder the famous Denver Broncos mascot as they wait on in the bitter cold for the Broncos game against the New England Patriots on December 18, 2016 in. Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a horse head mask atop a Broncos uniform. 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. [20] Thunder II would become tense, requiring ground handlers and his rider to help steady him. [6] She married Bob Magness, founder of Tele-Communications Inc., who also loved horses, and together they began an Arabian breeding operation that at its peak had 900 horses. The original Thunder made regular appearances at events and community functions following his retirement. 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. Coupon. Monarch AH was a race horse who won 19 of his 23 races, including several graded stakes races for Arabians, earning US$213,646. The Broncos mascot Thunder acts . Diary of an Equine NFL Mascot: Thunder's Journey to the Super Bowl Broncos mascot Thunder named National Western Stock - The Denver Post [1] Me N Myshadow is sired by Monarch AH out of a *Gondolier daughter, making him a distant cousin to Winter Solstyce. 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 kicked off Monday Night Football with a spirited entrance. Seen: Western Fantasy XXIV is a winter wonderland - The Denver Post Every time the Broncos score a touchdown, Thunder will celebrate with fans by galloping across the gridiron. Add to Cart. The evening begins with Denvers most distinct opening tribute. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. He became known as Thunder III, a 2000 Arabian gelding registered as Me N Myshadow. Watch the video above to learn about Thunder in a minute. [28], JB Kobask, a purebred Arabian stallion foaled in 1983, became the first live horse mascot for the Broncos in 1993 after a successful horse show career. Custom Content. [10] As Thunder II grew older, Magness-Blake anticipated the need for a replacement and added a third gray horse to the team. The stallion was notably gentle around children who wanted to pet him. $169.99 $ 169 99. Then one day he spotted such a field from high in the mountains, way down in the city of Denver. Thunder is the stage name for the horse who is the official live animal mascot for the Denver Broncos football team. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. IE 11 is not supported. The History of Thunder When Thunder, the Denver Broncos mascot opens each home game at Sports Authority field in Denver, Colorado, more than 76,125 fans show their Love of Thunder with resounding Mile-High cheers and applause. Sharon Magness-Blake has been with the Denver Broncos' living, breathing mascot . "Oh my gosh.". "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? Upon arrival, Thunder was stabled at the Stanford Equestrian Center. A look at a day in the life of Denver Broncos mascot, Thunder Thunder is trained and ridden by Ann Judge of Thunder Spirit LLC. Also,theDenver7crew sharesitsthoughts on the final stretch of the season. [4][12][20][30], At Super Bowl XXXII in 1998 in San Diego, Thunder Sr. appeared on the field after touchdowns. 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. Three purebred Arabianshave held this role since 1993, all gray horseswhose coats lightened with age until they turned completely white. Thunder is trained and ridden by Ann Judge of Thunder Spirit LLC. Denver Broncos mascot "Thunder" and rider Ann Judge take the field during player intros before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports. "He definitely looks rejuvenated," Campbell said of his former boss. 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. Thunder responded to the situation with aplomb, continuing to run forward onto the field, though he performed flying lead changes with each explosion. Men's Nike Orange Denver Broncos Custom Game Jersey. It helps that he wears earplugs (hes the first Thunder to tolerate them), but he doesnt wear them to keep him from spooking. Peyton Manning's 509 Touchdown Pass - NFL Network 2014. Thunder's driver was near Rock Springs on Sunday night when the Wyoming Highway Patrol closed the highway because of ice and snow. [9] He appeared at a few preseason home games in 2013,[52] and made most public appearances as team mascot in the Denver community that same year. Thunder rolled all across the foothills of Coloradobut went all but unnoticed. 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