Design of a Clean Stable in Three Aisles
Rules and dimensions for a healthy horse-stable, with mangers and a hay-loft window
A perspective interior view of a vaulted, arcaded stable heads a detailed set of rules for building a clean and healthy stall. Leonardo divides the width into three equal aisles, each 6 braccia wide and 10 high: the central aisle for the grooms, the two flanking aisles for the horses, each horse allotted a 3-by-6 braccia stall set higher in front than behind. He fixes manger and hayrack heights and describes an outer window through which hay is hoisted to the loft (instrument E) and fed to stone mangers through plastered conduits, keyed to labels m K p n S R and f.
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Three-aisle plan with fixed dimensions
The stable's width is divided into three equal aisles, each 6 braccia wide and 10 high, while its length is left free. The central aisle serves the stable-masters, and the two side aisles hold the horses.
Stalls and mangers for the horses
Each horse is allotted a stall 3 braccia wide and 6 long, raised half a braccio higher at the front than the rear. The manger stands 2 braccia off the ground and the hayrack rises from 3 braccia to 4 braccia.
Hay-loft window E and feeding conduits
An outer window 6 braccia high and wide lets hay be hoisted onto the loft by the instrument marked E. From there hay descends to stone mangers through conduits narrow at the start and wide over the mangers, well plastered so the hay does not jam midway.
