Lightning and Thunder highlight Broncos’ loss
Denny Dressman writes that a 20-yard Nix-to-Harvey score and a new white horse stole the show in a 33-13 preseason loss. The horse is unnamed until Sept. 20.
Denny Dressman ·
Lightning struck with the 5:53 left in the first quarter of last Friday’s preseason game between the Broncos and Packers at Empower Field at Mile High—a 20-yard touchdown pass from Bo Nix to RJ Harvey.
Thunder followed.
At least that’s what nearly everyone thinks the latest in the line of majestic white live-animal mascots will be named.
Rider Gretchen Flynn galloped the proud steed to the far end zone in what must have been a dry run after Nix thrilled the crowd of 75,640 with a precise game-tying throw that told them he was back after breaking his ankle in the playoffs at the end of last season.
I say, “dry run” and suggest that “nearly everyone thinks” the new horse will be named Thunder because the Broncos organization has withheld official announcement pending what it’s calling the “official debut” of the new horse mascot program at Denver’s regular-season home opener vs. Jacksonville on Sept. 20.
Until then, we’re free to think what we want.
Hopefully, that game will conclude more favorably than the occasion of the new horse mascot’s practice jaunt (a meaningless 33-13 embarrassment except for Nix’s cameo).
Nix went 6-for-9 for 76 yards in his two series, including a scintillating 35-yard completion to newly acquired Jaylen Waddle in what Broncos fans hope is a sign of things to come. Between them, Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger passed for 92 yards and no touchdowns.
Typical of a preseason game, the Broncos on offense used eight ball carriers and targeted 15 receivers besides playing three quarterbacks.
The Broncos announced a new horse management team and the new horse after the 33-year run of owner Sharon Magness Blake, trainer Ernie Blake and rider Ann Judge ended in retirement and the last horse in that historic run, Thunder IV, who was foaled in 2007, went to pasture because of advancing age.
“On behalf of our organization and all of Broncos Country,” Carrie Walton-Penner said in a statement, “we thank Sharon Magness Blake and Ernie Blake, Ann Judge and the entire Thunder Spirit team for their extraordinary contributions to the Denver Broncos.
“For more than three decades, Thunder created lasting memories for fans as an iconic part of our gameday experience and community outreach.
“We have the deepest appreciation for what Sharon, Ernie, Ann and the Thunder Spirit team have meant to the Broncos and look forward to building on their incredible legacy.”
Thunder’s community impact included an annual Christmas party for more than 300 children from local Boys & Girls Clubs. Judge, who rode Thunder for the last 28 of those 33 years said involvement in the community was among the most gratifying elements of the program.
“That maybe doesn’t have as much notoriety as what we do on the field,” she said, “but I’ve always felt like what we did in the community had the most personal impact.
“The things that we did with schools and libraries and elderly care centers and Boys & Girls Clubs. Those experiences are the ones that were not the most visible, but that’s where we really changed the course of people’s lives. And we did it with a horse.”
With the departures of the original Thunder team, the Walton-Penner ownership group made the Broncos organization the owner of a new horse mascot program. The new group includes:
Dr. Kelly Tisher, Program lead and veterinarian;
Elizabeth Tisher, Program lead;
Grethen Flynn, trainer and rider;
Philip Flynn, trainer; and
An as-yet officially unnamed horse.
In addition to entertaining young fans before games, leading the Broncos onto the field at home and romping from end zone to end zone whenever the team scores, the roles of Thunders past have been many and varied: from appearing at Super Bowls and leading victory parades, to walking down Times Square and appearing on the Today Show and Fox & Friends, to walking between banquet tables at the Western Fancy benefit and marching in the National Western Stock Show’s color guard.
They’ve flown in airplanes numerous times; ridden in elevators; and, of course, taken many trailer rides. They’re expected to ignore, or at least endure, pyrotechnic explosions during games, and stay calm no matter what unexpected incident occurs.
Bo Nix’s status may have been addressed in last week’s game, but how the next horse mascot reacts to all the commotion is yet to be determined.
Along with its name.
Denny Dressman writes a weekly sports column for The Villager. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@comcast.net.
Print source: The Villager, Vol. 44 No. 40, Aug. 27, 2026, page 12. There is no Sports slug in NEWS_SECTIONS; this draft uses local-news. The print names the rider Gretchen Flynn in one sentence and Grethen Flynn in the new-team list; both are kept as printed. The horse remains unnamed pending the Sept. 20 opener.