Multi-titled Spirited Rendezvous passed away on Friday, May 11 at the age of 26. This Pride’s Dark Spirit stallion was raised by John Sharp and Bruce Landtroop and was started under saddle by Bart Landtroop.  Eddie Barclay took over the reins of the leggy colt for several years for various owners and enjoyed much success in Kentucky and Tennessee. 

The big bay caught the eye of Mike Maack in 1993 and Spirited Rendezvous made the trip to Missouri where he dominated open and championship classes all over the Midwest for the next 9 years for a variety of owners and wins too numerous to count.   In 2002  at the age of 16, Spirited Rendezvous enter a new chapter of his career as he became the amateur mount for Bill Branham under the direction of Maack.  Bill and Norma Branham enjoyed the same success in the amateur ranks as Maack had in open classes, winning multiple open and championship amateur classes for the next three years. 

In 2005, the Branham’s retired “Ronnie” and gave him to Maack to live out the remainder of his life in leisure after entertaining horse show fans for 19 years.  Spirited Rendezvous was laid to rest at Maack Stables, in Polk, Mo. The dark bay stallion was known for his tall muscular presence and his huge heart and will be missed by the Maack family, the Branham’s and all who were associated with this great champion over the years.