Bullfighting with the “Muleta” requires bleeding the bull of its strength, brought
on by the actual bleeding that occurs when the lance punctures the bull’s back.
The Stage of Varas is the phase in which the bull is lanced by the Picador in order to
weaken it and prepare it for the Stage of Muleta (Suerte de Muleta).
The bleeding that depletes the bull of its energy must not be excessive but just
enough to calm its frenetic reactions.
The Stage of Varas is also a sort of test to gauge the fierceness of the bull. Only two
Picadores can be present in the bullring at the same time.
Two white circles painted on the sand in the ring create a boundary within which
the “Picadores” must remain.

BULLFIGHTER’S COSTUME

La Montera
The headwear worn by the bullfighter and his team. They usually wear it
during the paseillo and the first two-thirds of the stages. The headwear is
usually made of astrakhan.

El Corbatín
A very narrow tie.

La Chaquetilla (The little jacket)
A short, stiff jacket with padded shoulders and armholes opened to allow
movement of the arms.

La Talequilla (The Pants)
Tight pants from the waist to below the knee, adjusted by cords or tassels
terminating in males. They are held up by suspenders.

Las Medias (Two pairs of stockings)
A white cotton interior stocking and a pink silk exterior stocking.

Las Zapatillas (The Shoes)
Flat, black colored shoes, adorned with a bow.

The members of the matador’s team and the matador face the bull with the cape.
In the first two stages of the bullfight, the cape is used to “situar en suerte”, in
other words, to take the bull to an ideal spot to be jabbed by the Picador and to be
stabbed in the neck with the “Banderillas”. But the bullfighter also uses the cape
artistically. There is a wide range of ways of using the cape.

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