The Portuguese from La Puebla del Río, who has changed bullfighting on horseback, confirms that “in Murcia I always want to give one hundred percent”
It’s a revolutionary. Bullfighting on horseback has changed. His last appearances in Murcia, as in almost all places, are counted with triumphs. He drives 9 hours every day and his back is broken. In Murcia, he reached a historic milestone in 2017 by pardoning Los Espartales’ bull ‘Perdido’, the first bull to be pardoned in a bullfight in Spain. For bullfighting enthusiasts in the Murcia region, it is an idol.
–What does Murcia mean to you?
-Murcia is historically very important in my career. Ever since I started, and the Bernal family gave me the chance to fight in that arena, it’s been something really beautiful for me. Not only because of the pardon, the first bullfight in Spain, which will go down in history, but because of what it has meant for my career, with very resounding performances in Murcia over all those years. In Murcia, feeling that warmth from the crowd, that dedication to the bullfighters, means every time I fight at that fair I want to give one hundred percent and give myself to the fullest.
–Your figures are those of a historical figure, 17 great gates of Madrid, 10 gates of the Prince of Seville, grace… Do you consider yourself a legend of bullfighting?
-No. One cannot speak of a legend, nor of number 1. When I fight, my aim is to be the best, to do the best possible bullfighting on horseback, but until my career is over, and the years pass, and a balance can be found. reached, you cannot say what one has been.
–Morante, Ventura: what does La Puebla del Río have that gives geniuses?
-La Puebla is very special. It is true that the benchmark at the moment is Morante de la Puebla, who for me is the best bullfighter of all time. I don’t speak like a friend. As a bullfighter, he is something unique, with a personality and a truth in the bull embroque that is different. But there are also many people, who are not recognized at the level of Jose Antonio or me, who are great artists. I’m talking about painters, about people who sing, who play football. Children who have a gift. I don’t know why, and sometimes we wonder, but La Puebla is something special, I don’t know if it’s because of the way of living, because of the way of feeling, because of the way of understanding life. We base our lives on feelings, on looking for deep things that fill the soul, and I think that’s how people get all their art out of it. I think sometimes we even go crazy, a little bit weird, and artists come out that are something extraordinary.
Bullfighting has changed a lot since your father came to the Peralta’s house when you were a child. What’s left to do?
Bullfighting has changed a lot, both on foot and on horseback. It’s evolved a lot. In what I say, we cannot forget the great figures who have been on horseback or on foot in all those years. Today it would be figures of safe bullfighting. I believe bullfighting has evolved, the horse has evolved, dressage has evolved. That makes everything more beautiful now, that bullfighting on horseback is more like what bullfighting on foot is. I think the foundations were laid by those old rejoneadores. Then it is perfected over time. But I think the rejoneo can continue to develop. I want to put down my grain of sand and I want to leave that mark over the years. One of the things I’ve put a lot of emphasis on is the diversity of matings, by continuing to kill bulls of all matings, as in the past, because people want to see you not only with a quality bull, but also with a demanding bull , as happens in bullfighting on foot
-Ventura has dealt with a bullfight from Adolfo and fought one from Victorino in his last bullfight with only six bulls. We know the Murube bull is a boon for horse bullfighting, how does the Albaserrada cover for horses?
I’ve done it many afternoons this year. In Mérida it is one of the few times that Victorino has dealt with rejones and it was quite the show. In Castellón, Adolfo’s bullfight was also spectacular. It’s a season where I’ve wanted to fight a variety of encastes, with bullfights from Santa Coloma, Domecq, and I think the audience really appreciates this.
– Which block brings Murcia? Which horse should we look at?
-It is clear that all the stars go, as they should at such an important fair, but it is true that this season there is a new horse named ‘Nómada’, son of ‘Nazarí’, the star horse of my stable, who is in a great moment and which brings me some super important triumphs. I think you’re going to like it a lot and it’s going to have a big impact in Murcia. ‘Nazarí’ is already 20 years old, but he is fantastic, with a way of fighting and with a maturity, I think he is at his moment.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
