They are the first actors to appear in the bullring riding their horses. They gallop around the ruedo to make sure everything is ready for the corrida to begin. After receiving permission from the president, they gallop back to the puerta de cuadrillas (Troupes Gate) and march at the front of the participants during the paseíllo. Alguacilillos are the authority in the ruedo. They give the keys of the puerta de toriles (Bullpen Gate) to the torilero –person in charge of opening it. During the fight they stay in the callejón and transmit the commandments of the president to the matadors and their cuadrillas.
Additionally at the end of each faena, they are responsible for cutting the ears and tails of the bull awarded by the president to successful bullfighters.
Costume
The costume of the alguacilillos is that sheriffs used to wear in Spain during the time of king Charles IV: black clothes, white collar, a short cape (jubón) and a hat decorated with a long plume. The color of the plume varies between bullrings. In Madrid it is yellow and red. In Seville, red and white. The collar can be flat –as in the times of Charles IV-or corrugated –as in times of Philiph III-. Since the XVIII century, alguacilillos also wear leader boots.
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