Madrid, Spain

To start the spectacle the matadors and their assistants will enter the bullring and parade in front of the crowd in order of stature. The 1st matador will be he of the longest time served as a matador unless it is the 1st time in Madrid for one of the matadors in which instance he will lead.

The matadors and their assistants will go to their respective areas behind the Madrid bullring safety boards and await the 1st bull. Prior to the bull being released the equivalent of the master of ceremonies will annoce the bull via a handcaried billboard giving details of the farmer, origin and bulls weight. With the pomp and ceromony over the bull is released!

Initially the two assistants will enter the bullring and goad the bull into making a number of passes. This is done to determine the health and agression of the bull whilst the matador watches on. Sometimes the bull will not respond and the crowd will start to whistle. If this happens the bull will be returned and a replacement bought out.

Having secured a suitable bull the band located in the upper reaches of the plaza will play a quick melody signifying the entrance of two horses and their riders. The purpose of the riders is to manouver themselves so that they can make short cuts with their lances into the shoulder area of the bull. This serves to agitate the bull and to start the blood flowing out of the animal. A further melody signifies when the appropriate time has passed.

With the now enraged bull the assistants return to the bullring carring short barbed staffs banderillas. The assistants will attempt to have the bull charge them and at the last minute, going over the horns, plant the barbs into the bulls shoulders. A good assistant will plant the barbs firmly and accurately and the crowd will applaud this. Again a short melody signifies the end of this process.

Now it is the turn of the matador which translated literally means “killer”. Using his cape the matador will have the bull charge him. The objective being that when the bull does so the matador maintains a rigid pose and guides the bull around his body. Skilled matadors will do so in a way that the cape does not leave the ground.

As the bull tires, both through blood loss and exertion, the band plays up again and the matador goes to his assistant for the killing sword. On a particular charge this will be driven over the horns, through the shoulder blades and directly into the animals aorta killing it dead. This however doesn´t always happen and it may be necessary for the assistants to finish the stricken bull with a sharp needle like dagger between the eyes.