Picador

Bullfight

Presentation

At the time of the Paseo, the picadors ravel with horse by order of seniority, after the passage of the Matador S and of their peones. Apart from the Bullfight of rejón and Portuguese Race, they are only, with the Alguazil S, to move with horse.

Each Cuadrilla account two picadors, which officiate in turn and which are assisted where necessary by the Monosabio S. Their role is to test the bravery of the bull using their spade, lance out of wooden of 2,60 meters length beech finished by a steel point: the Puya .

In theory, the picadors apply two spades minimum (it does not have there a maximum), but in the event of weak bull, the president can reduce this number to only one. When the bull shows an exceptional bravery, an additional spade is sometimes given with the regatón : the picador takes its spade with back, and “pricks” with the end of the handle, the regatón , and not with the puya .

The majority of people who never attended a bullfight believe that the habit wants that the picador is whistled as of its track entry. No habit of this kind exists, alone whistle certain tourists who attend for the first time a bullfight.

In certain states of the United States (California and New Mexico in particular), the bullfight is practiced in an “edulcorated” form, without picador, nor banderilla or setting with death.

History

At XVIe and XVIIe centuries, the picador, or its ancestor the varilarguero (“carrying long lance”), was the principal hero of the bullfight, more awaited Torero S, the bullfighters with foot were only his assistances. With the difference of the noble ones, it did not continue the bull with horse or was not made continue by him, but it awaited it and its lance stopped it, as the picadors will do it thereafter.

It is only in second half of the 18th century that it starts to lose its supremacy, in particular under the influence of Costillares, to become in the middle of 19th subordinate of the Matador.

Successes of Costillares, considered as one of the fathers of the modern bullfight, involve a radical change in the art of toréer: until him, the main character is still the picador: after the picador, the important thing, they are the plays, the setting with dead is only the end (the “fine” word used in the direction “termination”) of the spectacle. After him, the picador starts to lose of sound will have, the plays are only one “interlude”, the setting with death becomes the end (the “fine” word used in the direction “drank”) spectacle.

Before the obligation to carry the Caparaçon in 1928, many were the horses of picadors killed or wounded under the load of the bulls. The Monosabio S intervened then to leave them track towards the Callejón, where they operated a summary surgery to try to save those which could the being or to cut down the others. The accidents of this types are nowadays exceptional.

Tienta

Picadors also intervene at the time of the selection trial of cows and reproductive bulls: the Tienta (or tentadero ).

The cow faces a picador provided with a spade whose puya is much smaller than that used in bullfight. If it shows a sufficient “bravery” it can then be toréée with the Muleta by a matador, who benefits from the occasion to involve itself. Often, the matador is followed initial bullfighters who try to point out themselves by the professionals present.

The Semental be (“standards”) are them also selected during a tienta of machos, but only with the picador. No hoods, no muleta is not used.

See too

picador

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