Wow Joao Moura has gotten really Fat. He reminds me of Napoleon a little bit.
I enjoyed reading your piece on Portuguese Equstrian Bullfights, but disagree on some points.
First
Check your facts and dates on the "Struggle" of rid Portugal of the Moorish invaders. Portuguese Massacred the moors and chased them out out the Country long before 1492. The Moors abandoned their well built castles in fear of the Portuguese King Afonso Henrigues & his army in the 12th Century.
Second
I don't think dart is a the correct word for the banderillas. It looks more like a harpoon.
Also, the purpose is not to irritate the bull and make it more aggressive. Its purpose is to tire the bull and weaken its neck muscles. The mound of muscle behind the head above the shoulders is the neck muscle. In Spanish Bullfighting inorder to kill the bull the Matador slides his sword in between the bulls vertibrate straight into its heart. If the neck muscle is not weakend the sword will never penatrate properly. In Portuguese Bullfighting, the forcados would be unable to stop the bull. It would just shake them off.
Guest
17-Jun-2007 02:46
Any chance of these magnificent beasts coming to the USA? I'd love to see them in action. The FEI World Equestrian Games are coming to Kentucky in 2010, maybe I'll get to see them there. You can see more information at: www.KYHorseProperties.com www.KYHorseChat.com www.KYHorseBlog.com Though I doubt that America would allow any of the bull fighting aspect, it would still be a real treat to see the horses in real life.
