"Some Place to rest easy" - Original Oil Painting

Artist: Renee Gould

Oil on stretched canvas in dark wood floater frame. 2025

Features cowgirl, Vanessa Ould
Kindersley, Saskatchewan

Growing up in Ontario, my mom had a paint horse, and she rode western, mostly on trail rides. We weren't involved in the agriculture industry, and the cowgirl life wasn’t even something I knew about. But all I ever wanted to do was ride horses, even though my sister wasn’t interested. So, I started lessons at five and eventually competed in the hunter-jumper circuit.

After high school, unsure of my next step, I traveled to Africa on a mission trip and then attended Bible school in England. There, I became friends with people from Calgary, Alberta. When I returned home, I decided to apply to Christian camps in the Calgary area, which led me to Pioneer Ranch Camp near Sundre, Alberta.

When they saw my horse experience, they offered me the horse program manager position. I warned them I didn’t ride western, but they assured me it wasn’t too different from English. They convinced me I'd be fine, especially since I’d mostly be taking kids on trail rides. So, I borrowed a western saddle, YouTubed how to use it, and told myself I’d only be there for one spring and summer.

That summer changed everything. I ended up working at the camp for several more years as the herds person, made friends with local ranchers, and learned how to rope.
A few years later, my now brother-in-law and sister-in-law came to help with the horse program, and they invited me on a pack trip. That’s where I met my husband, Levi. After the trip, I learned how to shoe a horse from Levi and his brother.

As time went on, I got more involved in roping and helped neighbors work cattle. Levi and I got married, had two kids, and worked on various ranches. In 2022, we moved to Saskatchewan to manage a community pasture. Our kids, even though they’re little, ride out with us as we manage cattle. We train our own horses and dogs, and I’m so grateful for all the knowledge passed down to me.

I never imagined becoming a cowgirl. I always dreamed of working with horses, but this life has far exceeded anything I could have imagined. Now, I couldn’t picture doing anything else. It’s a gift, and we don’t take it for granted.