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Again the trumpets sound and a bullring employee
enters with an announcement board showing the name of the bull, its
weight and the ranch where it was bred. In some bullrings this board can
be found next to the trumpet players. The bull enters the ring through
special doors called 'toriles', and shows the colors of the bull breeder
by the ribbons attached to his back. This exit can be an exit 'natural'
(when the bull turns to the left), 'contrario' (when he goes to the
right) or he will come out in a straight line.
The first to work the bull is one of the
assistants. He gives his matador (who will kill the bull) a chance
to watch the movements of the animal. Next, another assistant tests the
bull in some characteristic movements, like the 'Veronica',
'Media-Veronica', 'Recortes' or 'Revoleras'. In some cases the
matador himself receives the bull on his knees in front of the gate
through which the bull enters. This is called 'A Porta Gayola'.
By showing a white handkerchief the president
orders the 'picadores' (men on horses with lances) to enter the arena. The
first part of the corrida now begins, the 'primer tercio'. Picadors
always come in in pairs, riding horses which are heavily protected with
thick padding and are blindfolded. The first picador moves his horse to
the opposite side of the 'toril' gate, while the second one positions
himself next to this gate. He is called the 'picador de reserva' and
will only come into action if his colleague is unable to continue. When
citing the bull, the picador must not cross the white line painted on
the arena floor.
This part of the fight, which is called the 'suerte de varas', is
important for different reasons: It tests the bravery of the bull,
controlling his initial fury and energy and weakens the neck muscle
'morillo' making sure that the animal carries his head low enough for
the matador in the third part of the corrida. In this part the matador
works with the 'muleta' (a cloth made from red flannel on a wooden
stick). During the picador's performance the matador may test the
condition of the bull with the 'capote' (the big working cape,
magenta on the outside and yellow or sometimes blue on the inside) in
movements which are called the 'quites'. For this he might perform
a 'Chicuelina' a 'Gaonera' or a 'Mariposa'. All these movements
were invented by famous bullfighters in the past.
Sometimes the picador unfortunally uses abusive tricks like pushing and stabbing the lance or blocking the bull's exit.
Next the president (on the matadors request or on own initiative) shows
his white handkerchief to change to the second part, the 'secundo
tercio'.
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