Generally, most of the NFL teams have at least one mascot. There are a few who have more than one, and there are those like the Denver Broncos who even have a live animal as one of their mascots. Mascots are used by teams to gain popularity, and exposure, and to create a welcoming environment in general. The live animal mascots though are mostly used to provide a culture for the home team and some excitement at the start of the game.
Why the Broncos have a horse mascot
The team Broncos apparently came from a fan who suggested it because the Broncos are tough animals. In addition to that, he also mentioned that the Denver area was well known for having wild broncos. A bronco is basically a wild or half-tamed horse from the Western United States.
As a result of the team name being Broncos, it was a no-brainer to have a horse as their mascot. In 1993 the team first started using a live horse as a mascot which has continued till today. However, from 2001 onwards, the team has also started using a costumed mascot named Miles for all activities including marketing, interacting with fans, attending various events, and more.
What breed of horse is Thunder
The Broncos' live mascot Thunder is a purebred Arabian horse. Thunder has been the official mascot of the Denver Broncos since 1993. To date, the team has used three purebred Arabians to represent the mascot’s stage name Thunder. The horses used by the Broncos have all had gray coats which lightened completely to white with age.
As per the owner, Sharon Magness-Blake, Arabian horses are extremely friendly and take to people very easily. Therefore, if you want a live horse as a mascot, then Arabian breeds are probably the easiest choice one can make.
From 1993 till 2004 the original Thunder was the mascot of the Broncos. He was later named Thunder Sr. while Thunder II took over duties from 2004 to 2014. Since 2014, Thunder III has been performing the mascot duties. While all three Thunders have had different personalities, they all are up to the mark as the Broncos mascot.
When Thunder appears in games
Thunder’s main responsibility during games is to lead the team out and onto the field before the game gets underway. He is ridden by rider Ann Judge. She has been riding Thunder ever since 1998. Also, after every touchdown by the Broncos, Thunder comes and rides from one end of the field to the other and is then escorted back to his original position on the sideline by a group of four men. These men run along the sidelines to ensure the safety of both Thunder as well as the players, coaches, and staff on the field. At times Thunder is also seen taking a lap after a Broncos field goal.
A lot of training has been given to the horses used as Thunder in order to remain calm during unexpected occurrences. In normal circumstances, horses could react violently with all the things going on in the field such as pyrotechnics, loud crowd noise, people running on the field, etc. However, due to the proper training given to Thunder, there haven’t been any calamities as of yet.
As the fans, players, and even opposition teams have taken very well to Thunder, it seems that the Broncos will have a long association with their live mascot for many years to come. And having been to four Super Bowls, Thunder may very well be up for his fifth trip soon.
FAQs
A. From 1993 till date, three horses have been used by the Broncos as their mascot Thunder.
A. The owner of all Thunder Horses is Sharon Magness-Blake.
A. Arabian horses are known to be very people-friendly and are calmer than other breeds. Hence, using them as a mascot makes much sense.
A. Since 1998, Ann Judge has been the rider of Thunder, the mascot of the Denver Broncos.
A. Thunder, who is the live horse mascot of the Broncos, is the one to lead the team out on the field.
