Define "Keep"

[SunFire Farm]

Hello Everyone,
I need a general opinion. In a contract in which an employee is working off housing and the "keep" of one horse, what would your interpretation of the term "keep" be?

[trubandloki]

Does the contract not clearly state what "keep" means?

Is their working off include barn chores or is it totally unrelated work?

[hbrocks]

is this a "verbal" or written contract?

Think "peoples court" :lol:

[shawneeAcres]

whatever normal "keep" is determined to be in a paying clinet's contract. If boarders get feed, hay, beeding, stall, turnout, use of facilities, that would be "keep". If boarders get (included in board) worming or other things then that would be included in keep, as it is the normal for a boarded horse at that facility

[twofatponies]

Does the contract not clearly state what "keep" means?

Is their working off include barn chores or is it totally unrelated work?

I'd assume keep to mean the most fundamental stuff of boarding: one stall, cleaned daily; appropriate food 2x daily (supplements extra); fresh water available at all times; safe, appropriate turnout when not in stall; horse led to turnout and back to stall by barn staff according to the agreed or standard schedule. Barn staff to inform owner when and if horse is in need of medical attention, and to call the vet themselves in emergencies.

[twofatponies]

whatever normal "keep" is determined to be in a paying clinet's contract. If boarders get feed, hay, beeding, stall, turnout, use of facilities, that would be "keep". If boarders get (included in board) worming or other things then that would be included in keep, as it is the normal for a boarded horse at that facility

You said it better than I. Exactly.

[trubandloki]

I'd assume keep to mean the most fundamental stuff of boarding: one stall, cleaned daily; appropriate food 2x daily (supplements extra); fresh water available at all times; safe, appropriate turnout when not in stall; horse led to turnout and back to stall by barn staff according to the agreed or standard schedule. Barn staff to inform owner when and if horse is in need of medical attention, and to call the vet themselves in emergencies.

I think you are assuming too much.

There are lots of places that turn out is not included in daily care, etc. Some barns do not include feed 2x per day, etc. There are tons of variables that can not be assumed.

[SunFire Farm]

This was a written contract in which the word "Keep" was used to describe what the employee would be working off by doing farm chores, riding, etc. What is in question is if the word "Keep" means that the employee is working off the price of board or the actual cost of the horses care. Opinions?

[trubandloki]

What is in question is if the word "Keep" means that the employee is working off the price of board or the actual cost of the horses care. Opinions?

I am not sure what you are asking.

Guessing you mean you get a credit of a dollar amount per hour or per chore and you are not sure if your contract means you have to work to cover actual expenses of the horse vs what they charge for board?


If that is what you are asking I would guess it means the cost of board. That is what it has always been when I worked for credit.

[twofatponies]

I think you are assuming too much.

There are lots of places that turn out is not included in daily care, etc. Some barns do not include feed 2x per day, etc. There are tons of variables that can not be assumed.

Yeah, that's why shawneeAcres definition seemed better (he/she posted at the same time as me).

[SunFire Farm]

This isn't my own situation, but the horse involved is my concern. The employee is being asked to work off $850. in board instead of the actual cost of the horses care (which was what I understood to be the agreement). I wrote the original contract and the barn owner is interpreting it differently than I intended... so I was simply looking for a general opinion. Board or the price of board was never mentioned to me, hence the misunderstanding. This is how we learn to be specific! :o

[LMH]

I was going to say I just wouldn't use that phrase in a formal contract.;)

[trubandloki]

When figuring the actual cost of horse care did you figure in insurance and taxes and all that stuff on the property? Those are actual costs.

I can see why the BO would expect them to work off the full price of board with that wording.

[pj]

This was a written contract in which the word "Keep" was used to describe what the employee would be working off by doing farm chores, riding, etc. What is in question is if the word "Keep" means that the employee is working off the price of board or the actual cost of the horses care. Opinions?

If I had made such an agreement I would think I was working off the price of board. I would expect anything and everything that paying boarders got Nothing more and nothing less.