Let me start off by saying that I think bullfighting is a despicable act of animal abuse, and I love hearing about bull fighters (and those idiots at the Running of the Bulls) getting hurt, maimed, gored, killed, etc. My question, however, is what are the chances of a bull surviving a bull fight? If they win, do they have to fight again? If so, are there legendary bulls that kept killing these jerks, and is now living it up in a bull-retirement ranch somewhere? Oh, and on a side-note, I know they keep track of how many people of injured and killed at the Running of the Bulls, but how many bulls get seriously hurt during this event?
IIRC, toro is the big loser in nearly every corrida. Only on rare occasions when the bull has shown what is considered exceptional “heart” and courage is he allowed to live. This is, probably, so that the gene can be passed on. The most famous example of the Running of the Bulls fiasco takes place in Pamplona, Spain, of course. I am sure a search would get you more details than you ever wanted to know.
My father witnessed a bullfight (in Ecuador) where the bull gave such a fight and was such a challenge that the crowd started to yell “No Mate!” and the figher conceded. The understanding was that they put the bull out to pasture after that (though it might be hard to prove).
I am hesitant to call the bullfighter a jerk. He may kill the bull, but he puts his life on the line to do it (and the bull isn’t wasted afterwards).
The picadors and rejoneadors, however, inflict enormous pain on the bull beforehand (something the toreador doesn’t do). They are the bull’s torturers and are more directly responsible for whatever pain the bull feels.
At the risk of double posting, I will try this again.
As far as I know bulls never survive the corrida. Following is description of what happens during a corrida, goes without saying that some might consider it TMI.
First off, some background. A bullfight, known as a “corrida”, like any other sporting event follows an established format, which with some minor differences is followed every time. In each corrida three toreros, or bullfighters, fight a total of six bulls, or two bulls per fighter, following a seniority format, in other words the most junior bullfighter fights the first bull, then the second most junior fighter fights the second, and so on. The bulls to be fought by each bullfighter are determined by drawing lots.
The bullfight starts with the paseillo, or parade, of all the participants, well human participants. First the two alguacilillos on horseback travel to the royal box, or Presidencia, and symbolically ask for the “keys to door of the bull pen”. They are followed by the three bull fighters, who are in turn followed by the members of their entourage, or cuadrilla, which is made up of three banderilleros, and two picadores, more on them later. The parade is closed by the mozos and mulas de arrastre, or pulling mules, which will pull the body of the dead bull out of the plaza.
When the alguacilillo gets the key to the bull pen the first bull is released, and the bullfight begins.
The bullfight is divided into tercios, or thirds, which are announced by the sound of a trumpet. In the first third the bullfighter uses the capote, or cape, to execute a number of passes, taunting the bull into charging, and demonstrating his skill by making the bull miss by the thinnest margin possible, and with much flare. The trumpet sounds and the picadores arrive, and the bullfighter retires for now. The picadores ride horses but only one of them is actually involved in the fight, with the other taking up station and one end of the plaza. The picador also taunts the bulls into charging, and in a display of horsemanship make him miss, while at the same time they use a short lance to cut the bull between the shoulder blades.
In the second third the banderilleros, sort of second class bullfighters, place 3 pairs of banderillas, on the bull’s back, by taunting him into charging and then jumping out of the way, while at the same time reaching over the horns to place the banderillas on the bulls shoulders.
In the final third, also called suerte suprema, or supreme fortune, the bull fighter uses a muleta, a short cape, unlike the capote which he actually wears, the muleta is much smaller and more dangerous, since the bull can sometimes discern where the bullfighter is standing behind it. Again, the bullfighter makes a series of passes, and finally the bullfighter uses a sword, and after taunting the bull into charging, plunges the sword between the bulls shoulders. If this is done correctly the sword severs the bull’s aorta, thus killing him. If the bull does not die then, another sword is used to sever the bull’s spinal cord, thus killing him.
Depending on how the crowd perceived the fight, they will wave handkerchiefs to indicate their approval, the corrida president may then decide to grant the bullfighter a lap around the ring, one ear, two ears, or as maximum prize the bull’s tail. In very exceptional occasions the crowd may charge the ring and carry the bullfighter on its shoulders as acclamation. If the bull performed well, the crowd petitions for the carcass to be given a lap around the ring.
I remember seeing bull fights on TV here in the US when I was a kid. That is where I learned the term for when the bull passes through the cape (I have no idea on how to spell it, but phonetically it is ded-a-chaz-el). I used to say “That was a beautiful ded-a-chaz-el, Uncle Bill!” while watching with my uncle.
I stand corrected, it looks like it is possible for a bull to survive. From this link :
And as a short version translation, the corrida president will grant an “indulto” or clemency, if:
- A majority of the public demands it,
- The bullfighter must explicitly request it,
- The bull’s owner must also agree.
The fighter then goes through the motions of killing the bull, bust using a banderilla instead of the sword. The bulls is then returned to the bull pen, and attended to. If the fighter also fought well, a simulated ear(s) and tail may be awarded, I know, I know, I said the same thing. The bull’s owner must then reimburse the corrida organizer for the prize of the bull.
It was probably “derechazo”, or pass-on-the-right, which is the most common pass during a bullfight.
I was with the U.S. Navy in 1965. During a stop in Spain, the ships crew were forbidden to attend any bull fight while in uniform. Didn’t know why then and still don’t know why now. Did PETA have an American presence back then?
Thanks, bayonet. My uncle would thank you, too, if he hadn’t died in 1968.
ltfire - maybe because a lot of leftie NY writer types and beats were bullfight fans???
bayonet1976, thanks to my Alta Vista translator, we learn that:
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In the bullring of Pamplona, when a head of cattle by his trapio and excellent behavior in all the phases of the fight, without exception, is deserving of I pardon, to the object of its stallion use like and preserving in its Maxima purity the chaste race and of the head of cattle, the President will be able to grant it when the following circumstances concur: that it is solicitd mainly by the public, who specifically asks for the matador to whom has corresponded the head of cattle and, by I complete, that shows to its conformity the cattle dealer or mayoral from the cattle ranch to which it belongs.
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Ordered by the President I pardon by means of the exhibition of the prescribed handkerchief, killing the operating one will have, however, to simulate the execution of the luck to kill. To such aim, banderilla in substitution of estoque used one.
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Once carried out the simulation of the luck and nailed the harpoon, it will be come to the return from the head of cattle to the corrals to come to its priest.
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In such cases, if the matador had been awarded with the concession of one or the two ears or, exceptionally, of the tail of the head of cattle, the delivery of these trophies was simulated.
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When a head of cattle had pardoned, the cattle dealer will have to refund to the industralist in the amount or percentage by them agreed.
Do you want a factual answer, or are you just trying to start a debate? If you want a factual answer, you should simply ask the factual questions you want answered without injecting your potentially inflammatory opinions on the morality of bullfighting. Your glee in the death and mayhem visited on bullfighters is certainly not appropriate. In the future please phrase your questions in a more neutral tone. You’re more likely to get a factual answer that way.
I am gratified that your responders have not risen to your bait. I will leave this thread open in the expectation that your factual questions will continue to be answered and that debating will be confined to the appropriate forum.
bibliophage
moderator GQ
It’s not clear if you only mean bullfights in Spain, but FWIW, bullfights in Portugal do not involve the killing of the bull.
Hemingway’s nonfiction classic Death in the Afternoon provides a wealth of detail.
(Dunno if he’s one of j.c.'s lefties.)
The bulls never fight more than once regardless since the bull would learn too much from the experience and be too dangerous next time. That is why guards patrol the ranches that breed the bulls, to prevent nivices sneaking in at night and giving a bull an education.
This is true even in Portugal but the bull is killed at a slaughterhouse.
If I might add my two cents worth.
Under no circumstances (as I understand it) may the bull fight again. It is simply too dangerous.
Young bulls are shown the cape once to evaluate their bravery, they are rated by a jury. Later, when grown, they see the cape again in the ring. Very few of these bulls survive.
In addition, I would like to take exception to the tone of the OP. Although not a part of your culture, the ring is very important in some other cultures. It is an art that goes back to earliest times.
The fighters (and the bulls) are carrying on a very ancient tradition which exhibits many important virtues. Bravery, stamina and beauty are all respected in the ring.
I do not expect, in these modern times, many not born to it to understand it, but I object to name-calling as done in the OP.
BTW, yes Brazilian and Portugese bullfighting is a whole 'nother animal.
Many years ago I read a book called “Or I’ll dress you in mourning” by Larry Collins.
Great book!! A biography of El Cordobes, considered by many to be the greatest bullfighter that ever lived. I checked Amazon and it is out of print but available used. I highly recommend it. You will learn the entire sport, from the raising of the bulls to the training of the matadors.
LL
If I recall correctly (which I probably don’t seeing as how I spent most of my time at San Fermines drunk) the answer is 42. 6 bulls a day for seven days.