Why is mounted bullfighting more central to Portuguese bullfighting than to Spanish bullfighting?

Mounted bullfighting remains central to Portuguese tradition because it evolved into a refined equestrian art form, whereas in Spain, the practice largely shifted toward foot-based spectacles.1

Historically, bullfighting across the Iberian Peninsula began as a mounted aristocratic pursuit. However, as the Spanish aristocracy gradually abandoned the practice, the public transformed it into the modern, foot-based corrida common in Spain today. In contrast, Portugal preserved and honed the equestrian tradition, developing it into a national specialty known as rejoneo.1

Key differences defining the Portuguese style include:

• Focus on Horsemanship: The primary objective is to demonstrate the extraordinary skill of the rejoneadores and their highly trained horses, which maneuver at high speeds to dodge the bull.12
• Animal Welfare: Unlike the Spanish corrida, where the bull is typically killed in the ring, the bull in a Portuguese spectacle is not killed in the arena; it is dispatched later after being returned to the corral. Furthermore, the bull's horns are often padded or blunted to protect the horses.132
• The Forcados: Portuguese bullfights feature forcados, who perform the daring feat of wrestling the bull to a standstill after it has been lanced.1