"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?" [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. [2] Yet he remained calm and controlled in very intense situations,[20] and Judge believed he had a sixth sense for when to be energetic for a performance and when to calm down. "Oh my gosh.". Three purebred Arabianshave held this role since 1993, all gray horseswhose coats lightened with age until they turned completely white. [19] Officially retired in 2014, Thunder II occasionally makes public appearances. After two years, Miles felt his place wasn't in the mountains any longer. You ship him FedEx. 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 The game was in New York, Thunder II was 20 years old, and Judge didnt want Dos flying across the country in bad weather. Thunder is trained and ridden by Ann Judge of Thunder Spirit LLC. Denver Broncos Football Club. Broncos Country was as strong as ever in the Big Apple. 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. On this installment of "Broncos A to Z," Alexis Perry and Zac Stevens discusswhat went well and what didn'tin Denver's Week 6 loss to the Chargers. 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[47], The stallion was kicked by a mare in a 1997 breeding accident, resulting in a fracture that required two arthroscopic surgeries on his stifle, akin to knee surgery on a human, and was out of commission for six weeks; another two months was needed before he could gallop at full speed. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. As co-founder, this remains the pinnacle event and Sharons favorite night out with Thunder. 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. Thunder rolled all across the foothills of Coloradobut went all but unnoticed. 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. Fox 31 Denver - October 2019. "He definitely looks rejuvenated," Campbell said of his former boss. Filling, Copyright 2023 Thumbwind Publications LLC. Judge said without Thunder or his owner, Sharon Magness Blake, the APAHA award wouldn't have been possible. Fans, players and game day staff alike, stand in awe watching Thunder run. [44] She has been the trainer and rider of Thunder II for his entire career with the Broncos,[13] and also does so for Thunder III. Thunder Sr. was succeeded in 2004 by "Thunder II", an Arabian gelding registered as Winter Solstyce. He became known as Thunder III, a 2000 Arabian gelding registered as Me N Myshadow. He decided that was where he needed to be. "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. One of the first stops on President Damani Leech's eventual journey to Denver was as an NCAA intern in Indianapolis. [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. Hes more into meditation. Men's Nike Orange Denver Broncos Custom Game Jersey. Ships Free with code: KICK. [29] When bored, he has entertained himself by grabbing the zipper pulls of his handlers' jackets and running them up and down. Copyright 2023 Denver Broncos. Since his fathers retirement in 2014, Thunder III is the primary attraction and on-field power. [37] Thunder was also allowed to run in the end zone after a touchdown, but because MetLife Stadium was considered a neutral zone for both teams, he was not allowed to run the length of the field. 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. Then, they look ahead to Denver's final game of the 2022 season as the Broncos hope to secure their first divisional win. [1] Me N Myshadow is sired by Monarch AH out of a *Gondolier daughter, making him a distant cousin to Winter Solstyce. [5] Following his recovery, he resumed his mascot duties and appeared at Super Bowl XXXII in January 1998. [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," Steve Atwater, Orlando Franklin and Alexis Perry preview the Week 14 AFC West showdown between the Broncos and Chiefs. [44] He continued to make community appearances[13] until his death in 2009 at age 27. 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 following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. [49] Nicknamed "Dos" by Judge, Thunder II has been described as somewhat timid with a more subdued personality than his predecessor. [24] While at home, Thunder arrives at Mile High approximately two-and-a-half hours before kickoff. He was exposed to a variety of situations, including open horse shows where he could become accustomed to crowds and activity. 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. [24] His paternal grandsire is *Salon, a Russian-bred Arabian stallion from the Tersk Stud exported first to Germany and later brought to the United States. He was transported to the east coast in a FedEx cargo plane,[32] designed and equipped by Dutta Corporation specifically for transporting horses. 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. [55] He is people friendly and has been described as "social" and "quite the poser". Thunder made his Mile High debut on Sept. 12, 1993, during a Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers. 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. He came out of retirement to lead the Broncos Super Bowl 50 Championship parade. [4], The first horse trainer for JB Kobask as Thunder was Tom Hudson,[4] the trainer for Magness Arabians at the time. All Rights Reserved. Thunder, provided by Thunder Spirit LLC of Denver, will be entering his 5th year during the Broncos' 2018 campaign. Spectators were allowed to interact with Thunder and pet him prior to the game. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Thunder made his Mile High debut on Sept. 12, 1993, during a Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers. [4] He had been trained to rear on command. Thunder shares mascot duties with Miles, a human who wears a horse head mask atop a Broncos uniform. Select from premium Mascot Thunder of the highest quality. [1][18] Ann Judge has explained that because so many unexpected things can happen, it is important that the people working with him remain calm; it is trust in his rider and handlers, not just desensitization, that helps the horse remain steady: "You want them to look to you for the appropriate response and for confidence and faith so that the flight response doesnt get initiated. She and Magness Blake take Thunder to visit schools, libraries, hospitals and more to bring a little well, big bit of sunshine into peoples' days. The Chronicle of the Horse . [9] Ann Judge calls him "Tres". [31] Upon returning home, he led the team's victory parade in front of 600,000 fans in Denver. Every time the Broncos score a touchdown, Thunder will celebrate with fans by galloping across the gridiron. Well, in that great flash of heat and electricity was born the most amazing and dedicated Broncos fan ever, Miles. [21] Thunder III is the first of the mascots to tolerate wearing earplugs, which help protect his hearing from loud noises during games. Through Sharons involvement in diverse nonprofit efforts, Thunder has been a special guest to benefit organizations like Childrens Hospital, Denver Rescue Mission and the American Heart Association and Western Fantasy. What is the name of the 2 Broncos mascots? 88 and the impact he had on and off the field. 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. [13] He may also make a run after a field goal, but not a safety. Thunder is a purebred Arabian gelding that acts as the club's mascot. Thunder took the reins as the Broncos mascot at Super Bowl XLVIII in New York. [4] Following the death of her husband in November 1996, Magness-Blake downsized the horse operation and by 2014 owned about 15 horses. Peyton Manning's quip makes horse a hero", "Denver Broncos mascot Thunder the horse heading to the Super Bowl", "Cheerleaders and Thunder Meet the Press", "YepBroncos mascot 'Thunder' is flying FedEx", "Denver Broncos' and Seattle Seahawks' mascots head to town for Super BowI", "Get Ready for the Super Bowl at the TODAY Pep Rally", "Super Bowl 2014: Denver Broncos come galloping out at Super Bowl 48 (GIF)", "Thunder, the Broncos mascot, on his way to Super Bowl; NFL says he can gallop on field", "Denver Broncos' Equine Mascot Thunder Takes Manhattan", "Cheerleaders, Miles and Thunder bringing Broncos style to Super Bowl", "Broncos' Mascot Thunder Traveled Through Snow, Ice For Super Bowl", "Ann & Thunder, Denver Bronco's [sic] Mascot", "Broncos Mascot Thunder to Retire at Sunday Night's Game", "The Squeeze: Von's Vision, Key and Peele and Thunder II", "Handling the Broncos' horse is more than scooping poop", "Davidson: 20 years, $20 million for Volunteers of America's Western Fantasy", "Western Fantasy: It's not just the cowboys who have true grit", "A game in the life of Denver Broncos mascot, Thunder", "The Denver Broncos Mascot's $23 Million Ranch Is for Sale", "Super Bowl 2014: Broncos, Seahawks Enter the Field", "Denver Broncos Thunder during opening ceremony", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thunder_(mascot)&oldid=1137594742, Individual Arabian and part-Arabian horses, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2022, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 13:45. The Denver Broncos were founded on August 14, 1959, when minor league baseball owner Bob Howsam was awarded an American Football League (AFL) . This ceremonial full-field run signifies a Bronco scoring drive. For the next year, Miles lived high in the Rockies with all of the other wild animals. [20] Thunder usually leaves the field before the game is over. (Parker Seibold /. He retired after the final home game of the 2013 season. Eventually, he began turning to his handlers anticipating a treat whenever he saw a cheerleader with pom-poms. Thunder III and I ride around a hundred and twenty tables full of guests who love seeing the mascot up close and personal. [33], At Super Bowl XLVIII, Thunder led the team onto the field at the start of the game,[35][36] making it the first Super Bowl where he was allowed to do so. [14] Each time he makes a run, a four-person crew runs down the sidelines to the end zone to escort Thunder back to his sideline position. I'm blessed. Even behind enemy lines, Broncos Country was loud and proud at Arrowhead Stadium. [12][24] He was Magness-Blake's personal riding horse for several years prior to becoming the Broncos' mascot. [15] Thunder's helpers also remove any manure that he might drop while on the field. 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. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Ethan is currently an editor and author for outdoorskillz.com and twoverbs.com, Your email address will not be published. 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. "Super Bowl XXXII: The Revenge Tour" is a one-hour documentary special celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Denver Broncos' first world championship. [45] Judge has been described by Broncos' management as an "accomplished equestrian". Denver Broncos mascot Thunder, ridden by Ann Judge,. [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. Even in freezing and snowy conditions against the Rams, Broncos Country held strong during Sunday's game. . Out of Stock. For Judge, whose ridden Arabs since she was 12, it doesnt surprise her at all. [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. "[4], Magness-Blake owned all three of the Arabian horses that portrayed Thunder. 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. Thunder I was the teams first mascot from 1993 until 1996, and he was succeeded by Thunder II, who has been bringing the thunder since 1997. Pro Football Hall of FamerSteve Atwater and Gridiron's Michael McQuaid take a deep dive into some of the main storylines and matchups to keep an eye on as the Broncos and Jaguars take the international stage on Sunday. Mascot Champ of the Dallas Mavericks tosses t-shirts during a timeout on December 12, 2022 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. [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. 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. [11], Thunder leads the team onto the field at the beginning of each home game,[12] and typically gallops from one end of the field to the other whenever the team makes a touchdown. Miles, the Horse, was the successor to Huddle and made his first appearance in 1995. "He definitely looks rejuvenated," Campbell said of his former boss. Miller told 9NEWS. 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. 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. [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. 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. [6] He was particularly popular with children,[4] appeared on T-shirts, and was referred to as the "second most popular Bronco" after former quarterback John Elway. Heres everything you need to know (and probably didnt know) about Thunder. 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. 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? Finally, hear some of the best sound bites from some of the Broncos' most vocal leaders from over the past month. Please contact the developer of this form processor to improve this message. Thunder stopped immediately, averting a potentially dangerous situation. As of 2022[update], Thunder has appeared in four Super Bowls. He once marched right through the kitchen of the Sheraton in downtown Denver to meet President Bill Clinton. [2] Magness said, "Thunder is friendly, and Broncos fans think it's good luck for the opposing team to pet our mascot". He is described as laid-back, preferring to doze off during games when not performing. His only travel companions are Magness Blake, her farm manager Rudy, and Judge as they make the drive to Stanfords infamous Red Barn. [4] Both Thunder II and Thunder III are stabled at Judge's farm in Bennett, Colorado. Since its establishment in 1960, the Denver Broncos have had two official mascots, and these two Thunderbolts have created quite a stir. Thunder kicked off Monday Night Football with a spirited entrance. 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. 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. It's because of them that an Arabian horse is a face for philanthropy.
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