Denver Broncos Mascot Returns To The Field After Colorado State Equine Surgeon Repairs Injury
Thursday, October 30, 1997
FORT COLLINS--Thunder, the Denver Broncos' mascot, will
return to Mile High Stadium Sunday for the first time since a
Colorado State University equine surgeon repaired a potentially
debilitating knee injury six weeks ago.
Using techniques also applied in human orthopaedic surgery,
Dr. Gayle Trotter removed fragments of bone from Thunder's right
rear stifle joint, the equivalent of a human knee but farther up
the horse's leg. The joint called the knee on a horse is actually
more equivalent to the human wrist and is located on the animal's
front legs.
Trotter performed two arthroscopic surgeries on Thunder, in
which a small microscope was inserted into the knee joint and
used to help locate and remove bone fragments from the thick
cartilage and tissue surrounding the joint. The previous surgery
took place Sept. 3 at Colorado State's Veterinary Teaching
Hospital.
The 14-year-old, pure-bred Arabian stallion stayed at the
veterinary hospital for two weeks after surgery and has undergone
a controlled exercise program to restore strength in his leg. The
horse, whose registered name is JB Kobask, is owned by Magness
Arabians of Fort Lupton, Colo.
"It was a very large fracture, one that could have caused
permanent arthritis and chronic lameness if the bone fragments
had not been removed," Trotter said. "Thunder did extremely well
through both surgeries and I anticipate a full recovery."
Trotter said that rear stifle joint fractures are uncommon
in horses and Thunder's injury was about three times larger than
a typical fracture. A mare that was being bred to Thunder was
apparently responsible for delivering the kick that gave the
Broncos' mascot the injury.
Although Thunder will return to the field on Sunday when the
Broncos take on the Seattle Seahawks at Mile High Stadium, it may
take up to two more months before the stallion can be ridden at a
full gallop. Trotter said the recovery time is critical in order
to allow scar tissue to grow and strengthen in the area where
bone fragments were removed.
Thunder is in his fourth season with the Denver Football
Club and made his debut at Mile High Stadium on Sept. 12, 1993,
for a Broncos victory over the San Diego Chargers. Thunder is
always accompanied by his rider, Angela Moore, at home games.
Moore, horse trainer at Magness Arabians and a Colorado State
University alumna, assists with training, veterinary care and
grooming Thunder and other horses.
Thunder's surgery isn't the only relationship Colorado
State's equine surgeons have with the National Football League.
The NFL has teamed up with Colorado State's equine orthopaedic
research group and Vail's noted Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine
Foundation to develop new methods for treating knee injuries. The
research is being funded by grants from the National Football
League Charities.
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