The Denver Broncos put on a show for fans at their home opener at Empower Field at Mile High on Sunday, Sept. 20, scoring two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to stampede past the Jacksonville Jaguars for their first win of the season.
That comeback was a beauty, but not the only one on the field. During the home opener, the team introduced its newest mascot, Thunder V.
The Broncos’ previous mascot, Thunder IV, retired earlier this year after 33 years of tromping across the field during home games to whip up the crowd and inspire players, according to CBS News.
The team announced Thunder IV’s successor in August, finally getting a chance to show off the equine during Sunday’s game. Thunder V officially took up the mantle during a “Passing the Reins” ceremony as part of the game’s halftime show.
A new horse means a new team, and this one is co-lead by husband-and-wife team Elizabeth Tisher and Dr. Kelly Tisher, a veterinarian. Trainer Gretchen Flynn rides Thunder V while her husband Phillip Flynn rounds out the team as a fellow trainer.
In a video from the team, Gretchen described how Thunder, a white male Andalusian, has “two sides to himself.”
“He’s really sweet and affectionate in the barn. He loves being rubbed and scratched,” Gretchen said. “But when it comes to riding, he likes to show off. He’s very arrogant. He loves to perform. When we’re in the stadium, he thinks everyone is there to watch him. [He’s] a perfect candidate for this job.”
Kelly Tisher explained that the Andalusian breed is a good fit for the role of Thunder because the horses are known to be good around crowds, often used in rodeos and other entertainment events.
“You’ll see them a lot in the movies,” added Phillip Flynn, “because they have lots of hair but they’re also bred to be very bold.”
Thunder V will be on the field for at least seven more home games this year—hopefully more if the team makes a playoff run. Your next chance to catch him strutting his stuff at Empower Field is when the Broncos take on the LA Rams on Sunday, Sept. 27.
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