Machinery for a clean horse-stable
Winch-lifted lid, pump-fed troughs, a washing pool and trapdoor manure-rakes
These figures all concern the cleaning of a horse-stable continued on the facing folio. Leonardo sketches a cart with rope-haulage, a lid raised by a winch, a well feeding pump-filled drinking channels (keyed 20 and 30), and a rake that draws manure from the stable corridors through trapdoors 7 and 9 into vaults below. The note describes a washing pool for horses returned from travel, a wedge-shaped stone to carry off urine behind the hind feet, a strawless plank bed of oak or walnut, and two crossbars at knees and flanks; the stable itself is raised above ground so the dung can be carried away where it gives no nuisance.
On this page
Cart and rope haulage (E)
The first figure shows a cart, marked E, with the hauling done by rope. It belongs to the gear for clearing the stable.
Lid raised by a winch (3, 2)
A lid is lifted by a winch, keyed 3 and 2, over the drinking channel so that when the horses are to drink it can be opened.
Well and pump-fed drinking troughs (20, 30)
A well feeds the drinking channels, which are filled by pumps as shown at 20 and 30, keeping the channel clean.
Rake drawing manure through trapdoors 7 and 9
A rake extracts the manure from the stable corridors. Raising the trapdoors 7 and 9 lets it be pulled and dropped through the holes into the vaults below.
Care of the horses: washing pool, urine stone and strawless bed
Outside the stable a floored, gravelled pool 1 1/2 braccia deep washes and cools horses returned from travel. A wedge-shaped stone behind the hind feet carries off the urine, the strawless bed is a plank of oak or walnut, and two crossbars at knees and flanks keep the horses from kicking or breaking loose.
Raised stable over vaulted dung-pits
The stable is to stand above ground level so the dung can be conducted from the pits to where it gives no nuisance. The manure-vaults below are 3 1/2 braccia high and 2 wide.