The picador

The role of this this armored rider with a pike is to test the courage of the bull. Secondarily he is supposed to wound the animal, so that the bull will be forced to gore with his head close to the ground, thus allowing the matador to eventually kill it. If the work of the picador is well done, the chances of the matador to have a good performance are increased. Every cuadrilla has two picadors. During the corrida, each of them will be in charge of one bull. While the picador de turno (the one wounding the bull at a given moment) works, the other one should be guarding the opposite gate in order to prevent any escape attempt from the bull. Picadors need to be strong courageous men, as well as expert riders and with a deep knowledge of bullfighting.

Peto (The armor of the horse)

It must cover and protect the whole body of the horse and weight at least 30 kilos. Nowadays it is made of kevlar. The legs of the horse are protected with stripes of the same material called manguitos. Before the corrida, the eyes of the horse are blinded with two patches. Otherwise the animal would be scared of the vicinity of the bull and run away.

Monosabio (Assistant)

His role is to assist the picador and the horse during the tercio the varas (fist stage of the fight). He helps him to ride on the horse, pushes while the bull is attacking to prevent rider and horse to fall and helps the picador to stand again if he is lying on the ground. Monosabios always wear a red or blue shirt and dark trousers.

La puya (Pointed Stick or Pike)

The length of the spear used by the picador is two meters. At the top of it there is a 29 mm triangle-shaped iron tip. A wooden block called cruceta prevents the puya to penetrate into the flesh of the bull deeper than it should.

Venda (Blindfold)

Peto (Armor)

Manguitos (Leg Covers)

The costume

Castoreño: Traditionally, the hat worn by the picador used to be crafted using beaver skin. Nowadays this material has been replaced by others, such as felt. The top of the castoreño is called moña and is made of black felt. The black stripe which prevents it from falling during the fight is called barboquejo.

Chaquetilla (Jacket). As well as the costume of the matadors, that of the picadors can be ornamented using golden sequins. This is a privilege inherited from ancient times, when picadors used to be as important as the diestros.

The mona and the gregoriana
Under the trousers picadors wear the mona –iron armor covering the right leg to protect if from the gores of the bull- and the gregoriana –protection on the left leg in case the rider is pushed against the barrera-.