For 33 years, Thunder has been galloping into Mile High Stadium, charging down the field after every Broncos touchdown. Kris Van Cleave shows how the team's equine mascot became part of Denver's football identity.

Denver

Thunder, the live horse mascot of the Denver Broncos, has been leading the team onto the field for 33 seasons. Ridden by horse trainer Ann Judge, Thunder gallops down the field at every home game, especially after each Broncos touchdown, becoming a fan favorite and a symbol of the team's spirit.

Thunder's presence began in 1993, and since then, he has participated in every home game, including all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins. Owned by Sharon Magnus Blake and cared for on a farm in Bennett, Colorado, Thunder's role has become an enduring tradition for the team and its supporters.

Meet Thunder, the real Bronco leading Denver's charge for 33 seasons

It's Friday, time for our mornings kickoff to get you hyped for all the weekend football. The Denver Broncos host the New York Giants this Sunday right here on CBS. You remember Bronco greats like John Elway, Terrell Davis, Peyton Manning. But what about Thunder? Who? Yeah, we're not talking about the weather. This is a horse. Oh. Chris Van Cleve's got the story of the Bronco that's galloped into Denver's heart. Like any superstar, there's a pregame ritual. Granted, in this case, it involves hay. But hey, he's got to fuel up. Because before the Denver Broncos kick off a home game, Thunder is going to roll. Here comes Thunder. Leading the team onto the field at a gallop. Sometimes the players go in and out of favor. Thunder never goes out of favor. Horse trainer Ann Judge has been riding the team's living, breathing mascot for three decades, delighting fans by racing down the field whenever the Broncos score. We're representing everything that the Broncos mean. Every time they see Thunder, something good has happened. After horsing around with other mascots, the team called Thunder owner Sharon Magnus Blake. We need a white horse to be the mascot. They had one, but he got fired. And would you like to do it? I said, I would love to do it. 33 seasons and four Thunders later, she and her husband spend game day at Thunder's in-stadium stall, waiting for this Bronco's time to run. It's stressful because you want to keep the horse safe. And you want to keep everybody around him safe. But it's so cool. What do you think, buddy? He said, I think I'm going to have to work hard today. I think we're going to win. And work he did, streaking down the field for each of the four touchdowns. When Thunder first set hoof on the field back in 93, the Broncos came up with a win. Since the horse left the barn that September Sunday, Thunder has saddled up for every home game. All three of the Broncos Super Bowl wins and become a stable fan favorite. Yes, he even got a stallion-sized Super Bowl ring. When it's not game day, Thunder spends his days at a horse farm in Bennett, Colorado, about an hour east of Denver. But once he rolls into that mile-high stadium, it's pretty easy to spot Thunder's ride-or-die fans in the crowd, like Russ Barnum. I think it's kind of one of those critical things, especially with Thunder doing the ride that he does. Can you think about the Broncos without Thunder? No, never. Our seats are right there at the tunnel when Thunder comes out. A tradition spanning 33 seasons of leading the Broncos to victory. For CBS Mornings, I'm Chris Van Cleave in Denver. Great mascot. And Judge looks good, too, on that horse. And Judge on the horse? He looks good, too. He does. You can watch the Broncos take on the Giants and the rest of the CBS slate of NFL games this Sunday here on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

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