They create wonderful memories and traditions, just like the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears Thanksgiving Day game. A well-designed and implemented mascot may provide a feeling of fun and excitement to the game, resulting in a lively and memorable environment for fans of all ages. Miller told 9NEWS. Thunder is the stage name for the horse who is the official live animal mascot for the Denver Broncos football team. [4] Following the death of her husband in November 1996, Magness-Blake downsized the horse operation and by 2014 owned about 15 horses. He also learned how to unscrew water bottles and squeeze them to get water. [51] When Magness-Blake downsized her horse breeding program, Monarch AH was sold to Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates. However, he did not appear in person as a mascot until 2 years later. 88 and the impact he had on and off the field. [9] He was Magness-Blake's personal pleasure riding horse prior to taking on his new role as team mascot. The National Football League decided to allow Thunder to to lead the team onto the field at MetLife Stadium for Super Bowl XLVIII. The Denver Broncos' iconic mascot, Thunder, will lead the team on to the field at Super Bowl 50. 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. For 30 years the Denver Broncos have been led into the field, at every home game, by a majestic Arabian horse called Thunder. He was exposed to a variety of situations, including open horse shows where he could become accustomed to crowds and activity. He had been the personal pleasure riding horse of Magness-Blake. He came out of retirement to lead the Broncos Super Bowl 50 Championship parade. Salmon sushi cups: Get Joy Bauers recipe! [55] He is people friendly and has been described as "social" and "quite the poser". The Chronicle of the Horse . 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. These mascots exemplify the essence of the Broncos and are a treasured part of the teams history and culture, whether theyre performing on the field or spreading joy in the stands. 2016-2021 Thunder Foundation All rights reserved. Even though the server responded OK, it is possible the submission was not processed. Denver Broncos - September 2017. Learn More{{/message}}, {{#message}}{{{message}}}{{/message}}{{^message}}It appears your submission was successful. . Since its establishment in 1960, the Denver Broncos have had two official mascots, and these two Thunderbolts have created quite a stir. [6] The couple, along with two other people, are part of Thunder's ground crew at football games. The Broncos' mascot since 1993, Thunder is a familiar sight, circling Mile High Stadium with rider Angela Moore on his back at the start of every home game. "Demaryius Thomas: The Heart of a Legend" reflects on the unforgettable legacy of the late No. 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. 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. Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning joked, "Might have to give ol' Thunder an I.V. [53], In conjunction with Super Bowl 50, a Breyer Horse model was created of Thunder. He represents the Denver Broncos everlasting energy and dedication to their fans. Thunder III is a 16-year-old Arabian gelding, registered as Me N Myshadow. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. [1] Me N Myshadow is sired by Monarch AH out of a *Gondolier daughter, making him a distant cousin to Winter Solstyce. Spectators were allowed to interact with Thunder and pet him prior to the game. Copyright 2023 Denver Broncos. His major public debut was in 2014 as team mascot at Super Bowl XLVIII in New Jersey. A year later, Judge took over as trainer as well as rider. Thunder has also been there to celebrate each touchdown and field goal. The Denver Broncos Bunch Club hosted their annual Trick-or-Treat on October 26th. Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge, leads players onto the field before a game against the Houston Texans at Empower Field at Mile. So we can expect Thunder IV soon to be in Broncos games. Thunders pre-game ritual is pretty low-key. 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. Finally, hear some of the best sound bites from some of the Broncos' most vocal leaders from over the past month. 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. "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. He began performing at preseason games in 2013. "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?" Thunder made his Mile High debut on Sept. 12, 1993, during a Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers. Miles loves his new home, and the turf management folks appreciate the help he provides keeping the turf nicely trimmed. Extra handlers ensure the safety of the horse and surrounding people. [2] Magness said, "Thunder is friendly, and Broncos fans think it's good luck for the opposing team to pet our mascot". Offer ends in 23hrs 36min 12sec! Thunder is trained and ridden by Ann Judge of Thunder Spirit LLC. He was a son of the Polish import *Wiking, an all-time leading sire of Arabian racehorses. [21] Judge signs autographs for about 45 minutes before each game,[27] allowing fans, particularly children, an opportunity to become better acquainted with Thunder. Also,theDenver7crew sharesitsthoughts on the final stretch of the season. "Oh my gosh.". The fans of Broncos Country showed up in force and were loud all game against Houston. 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 Since his fathers retirement in 2014, Thunder III is the primary attraction and on-field power. Thunder II served . The Denver Broncos mascots have been making fans laugh and smile for almost 25 years, and they have become a crucial aspect of the team. All Rights Reserved. On this edition of "Broncos Weekend," Steve Atwater, Orlando Franklin and Alexis Perry preview the Week 14 AFC West showdown between the Broncos and Chiefs. For example, sealing all the gaps also, Closing blinds and draped works great, indeed. Learn More{{/message}}, Thank you for sharing such great post! Denver Broncos - September 2017. Your Price: $49.99 $ 49 99. Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge,. Following every Denver Broncos touchdown, Thunder displays his impressive canter from one end zone to the other. [12][24] He was Magness-Blake's personal riding horse for several years prior to becoming the Broncos' mascot. 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. Not long ago, high in the Rocky Mountains, an amazing thing occurred in the great history of Broncos football. [4], Thunder III began his mascot duties as the understudy to Thunder II. [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. One last thinglets address the elephant in the room. 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. Super Bowl 50championRyan Harris breaks down a fewgame-changingplaysfromdown the stretch and points out ways the Broncos can improveagainst the Jets. Sharon Magness-Blake has owned all of them, and Ann Judge has been their rider since 1998 and trainer since 1999. Thunderis the stage namefor the horsewho is the official live animal mascotfor the Denver Broncosfootball team. Thunder is a collectible Hand-Crafted Breyer Model Horse The second mascot is Thunder III, the son of Thunder II. [9] He also traveled to appear at Super Bowl 50. One of the first stops on President Damani Leech's eventual journey to Denver was as an NCAA intern in Indianapolis. Before Miles came along, Huddles was the mascot chosen by Denver Broncos. Thunder took the reins as the Broncos mascot at Super Bowl XLVIII in New York. Then one day he spotted such a field from high in the mountains, way down in the city of Denver. Ann and Thunder show their Broncos spirit. It's been 25 years since the Denver Broncos earned their first world championship, butthat season is still fresh in the minds of the men who earned it. As co-founder, this remains the pinnacle event and Sharons favorite night out with Thunder. [18] FedEx sponsored the plane trip for its promotional value;[9] the cost for which normally runs about $20,000. Denver Broncos mascot "Thunder" and rider Ann Judge take the field during player intros before a game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Sports. For the next year, Miles lived high in the Rockies with all of the other wild animals. Denver Broncos Mascot Statue. [4] Both Thunder II and Thunder III are stabled at Judge's farm in Bennett, Colorado. Thunder, the Broncos' team mascot, a gray Arabian gelding, will head the traditional the 2017 National Stock Show Parade through Downtown Denver on Jan. 5 to kick off the 16-day stock show. See what it takes for the Broncos mascot to prepare for games September 26, 2022, 8:10 AM TODAY's Al Roker visits Empower Field at Mile High Stadium in Colorado to see what it takes for the. Required fields are marked *. His registered name was JB Kobask, but the stallion was given the stage name Thunder for his mascot duties. In The News. [29] He has appeared frequently as part of the color guard at Denver's annual National Western Stock Show. [8][33][41] She grew up poor in Philadelphia, and did not ride a horse until she was 20 years old. "Super Bowl XXXII: The Revenge Tour"features interviews with the fiveHall of Famers from that team, their head coach, Mike Shanahan, and some of the biggest stars from that 1997 team todetail their Super Bowl XXXII run and how the feeling of defeat in the divisional round the previous year fueled them throughout their 20-game championship season. Mile High gets loud. The original Thunder served as the Broncos' mas- cot for 11 years before retiring at the start of the 2004 campaign. The purebred Arabian gelding is also part of a good luck ritual for the Broncos. The Denver Broncos are notorious for having thunderstorms throughout the fall and winter that is Thunder storming the field. The Broncos mascot Thunder acts . [4] As well as his support crew, Thunder has a bodyguard who travels to the games. He longed for greener pastures; in fact, Miles wanted the greenest turf he could find. 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.