Picador

Picador 1

Picador

A picador is a horse-mounted bullfighter in the traditional Spanish-style bullfighting who lances the bull during the tercio de varas, the first of the three stages of the corrida. The picador's role is to weaken the bull's neck muscles and to provoke the bull into charging at the matador.

Role in Bullfighting

The picador is one of the three types of bullfighters in a corrida, the others being the banderillero and the matador. The picador's primary function is to pierce the bull with a lance (known as a vara) in order to weaken its neck muscles. This is done to make the bull's charges less powerful and more predictable for the matador during the final stage of the fight.

Equipment

Picadors are equipped with several key items:

• Vara: A long lance used to pierce the bull.
• Peto: A protective padding for the horse.
• Castoreño: A wide-brimmed hat worn by the picador.

History

The role of the picador has evolved over centuries. Originally, the picador's function was more prominent, but over time, the focus of bullfighting has shifted more towards the matador's performance. Despite this, the picador remains a crucial part of the bullfighting tradition.

Controversy

The use of picadors in bullfighting has been a subject of controversy, particularly among animal rights activists who argue that the practice is cruel to both the bull and the horse. Critics argue that the picador's actions cause unnecessary suffering to the bull, while proponents claim it is an essential part of the cultural tradition of bullfighting.

See Also

• Bullfighting
• Matador
• Banderillero
• Corrida
• Tercio de varas