Horse takes the fall

The part of the bullfight when the picadors are on stage can be very exciting.  Here you see the picador driving his lance into the bull, the bull driving his horns into the protected horse, and the action is driving the crowd crazy.  This bull was particularly strong and feisty, and did not stop until he had upended the picador and horse.

The horse (uninjured) falls in a heap, as the picador leaps off and the bull rambles away.  The matador and his assistants quickly rushed in to keep the bull away from the downed horse, while trainers rushed on to help the horse rise.  Given the weight of his protective armor, it was not easy--but they finally did get the horse up.

Matador takes the fall

We saw a lot of action.  On this occasion, the matador got a little too close and ended up on top of, and then beneath, the bull.  Here he defiantly poses with his back to the bull.

In the next instant, the bull is on him with his horns bared.  This matador was spared a goring but was able to get up close and personal with those horns, as he had a brief, unanticipated, ride on the bull's back.

His face bloodied with the bull's blood, the matador survives to finish off the bull and receive a warm round of applause from the crowd for a very exciting bullfight.

Matadors Strike a Pose

As we stated earlier, the matador plays to the crowd with classic poses, bold moves and a generally arrogant air.  The more daring and perilous the moves or techniques used by the matador, the more cheers he will receive.  The crowd loved it and so did we.

The matador yells "Hey Torro!" which means "Hey Bull!" to incite the bull so that it will charge at the red cape.

The matador is successful.  Notice the classic pose: standing still and poised with his back arched and his left arm gracefully anchored to his hip.

This matador is sizing up the bull as he prepares his sword for the kill.

The matador points at the bull to show him who is boss.  The bull had just upended the matador and, of course, the matador--always the ham--plays to the crowd with wonderful, theatric, effect.

This young matador (18 years old) was loved by the crowd.  Half way into his routine, the band started playing and the crowd started to cheer louder and louder with each daring move that the matador made.  He became very bold and began to put the cape behind his back as if to say, "Hey torro, if you want the red cape, you will have to get me first".  The crowd loved it.  After he finished the job, the crowd waved their white handkerchiefs and the young matador was awarded the bull's ear.

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