Tuesday, August 21, 2012

That's Pretty Powerful, When A Bull Can Toss A Man And A Horse




 Note the pedigree in the below link.  108 years of selective breeding to arrive at this animal today
Impresionante corrida de Fuente Ymbro para Bilbao... hoyFuente Ymbros para hoy en Bilbao...  

6 comments:

Dennis said...

Yes, looks great. How much power is left after the picadores slice and dice those muscles with their poled knives ?
It is the only part of the corrida that I winced at.

Wade G. Burck said...

Dennis,
About 80% of their power, as the picador's don't "slice and dice." The bull charges, and the picadors "push and hold, with a cross bar on the blade to prevent it from entering too deep and doing to much damage. It's purpose as you may well know is to weaken the bull's massive neck muscles, causing it to carry it's head lower,(like elephants go away from the pressure of a bull hook, pressures on top, the head goes down, and horse's move away from a spur) making for an easier, cleaner kill. It's duo purpose is to again test the bulls courage, strength, fighting spirit and will power. Will it charge into "subjective pain", and continue pushing and shoving into it, or will it retreat from the "subjective pain. It's all perception Dennis, exactly like the perception of a bull hook, or and elephant sitting up or doing a head stand. Have you ever seen an elephant push into a bull hook point, or pull away from the hook? How much pain is there if they will not move away from the pressure? Ever seen a horse lay on a spurred leg? How much pain is there? But if he is booted and told to move off of the pressure he reacts. Why? Because a horse lacks the courage and bravery of centuries of selective breeding to fight.

Wade Burck

Dennis said...

Considering the neck, including the head and horns, is the most dangerous part of the bull, any damage inflicted by man to that neck puts him at a great advantage over the bull.
To back up my claim, how many men die in the ring compared to the number of toros?
I fully admire those who place themselves in the plaza with animals of such size and temperment, but I think their prowess is greatly exaggerated.

Wade G. Burck said...

Dennis,
Then you also have to assume any damage done to the neck of an elephant with a bull hook, gives the trainer a great advantage. There is absolutely know difference in whether an goes away from pressure or not. How many wild animal/elephant trainers have been killed or permanently crippled X the number of animals trained? Greatly exaggerated danger? Or fate?

Wade

Dennis said...

I wasn't giving any thought to elephants, only fighting bulls.
With my limited experience with elephants I don't know that damage can be done to elephant necks or not so much. But bulls I am certain suffer wounds from the picador.

Wade G. Burck said...

Dennis,
Being familiar with elephants, I can assure you the bull receives one, 2-2 1/2 inches deep. Far, far less then they would receive countless times, on a daily basis from feisty fellow pasture mates. It's purpose again, to see if he is going to back off, or continue on his path.

Wade