8am, we saddle the horses. Today we have to move two groups of bulls. Their enclosures need to be swapped due to the departure of the young bulls. The number of animals per enclosure has decreased, so we will move the most numerous animals into the largest enclosure and vice versa. The two enclosures are connected by a door. But…it’s difficult to make the bulls understand that. Mixing two established groups guarantees titanic battles. We must therefore bring out a first batch of 8 bulls, leave them in the path which will serve as a waiting room, pass the 5 young bulls in the first enclosure and then bring the bulls into the large enclosure. A simple plan. To carry it out, they mobilized: 3 riders, 1 Mansa cow named "La Berenda" and 2 oxen, "Plato and Socrates". The access road to the cortijo was closed, as was the gate leading to the Dehesa; they were in a closed enclosure. The cow and the ox were sent into the first enclosure with the hope that they would immediately herd the bulls. Things get very tense, the sheepdogs leave the enclosure on their own and take refuge in a corner. The mayor fumed: "We should have left the cow with them yesterday!" ». Indeed, after a night, the oxen and the brave men form a new group; the oxen, knowing the gates, when pushed by the riders, come out at the first opportunity and create a suction effect for the group of bulls. This is repeated several times, and each in turn, we go to get them and bring them back into the enclosure. We try from one side of the enclosure, then from the other, it fails every time in front of the gate, the bulls turn around, horse or not….In this situation, it is advisable to have horses with the following qualities. Courage, but not stupidity; speed, flexibility and of course unwavering obedience. Indeed, a "stupid" horse will not sense the dangerous distance, or will approach the bull without being sufficiently on its guard. A good horse is capable of triggering the escape on its own, at least without a contrary order from the rider. On the other hand, it must possess the necessary explosiveness at the start, be faster once launched than a galloping bull, and "double up", bend. He must be able to make quick half-turns in order to re-engage an overly persistent bull. Indeed, as a general rule, bulls charge quickly and strongly, but over a short distance. However, sometimes these great laws of the countryside are broken by some bull who doesn't know the rules. In any case, in Mirandilla, there are no horses that "go in," so it takes more time. That is to say: not a horse willing enough to make the bull doubt itself and therefore "flee" by going in with a frank approach, but quick enough to turn around in a fraction of a second in case of a charge. The major problem here is honesty. The horses are wary of the bulls and return "backwards", wanting to leave... so the bull doesn't believe it. That being said, this is not a problem at all. In Mirandilla, the bulls dictate the course of time. On the other hand, Fabrice wants to work with the animals calmly, not to rush them too much, so in case of too strong a confrontation, we break off. This avoids accidents and broken fences, but also reduces stress on the livestock, which, in the event of very aggressive sorting, would become agitated, urinate and defecate, and thus lose a lot of weight and energy for nothing. With the help of Javi, who came to reinforce the operation with a tractor and trailer to create a funnel in front of the gate of the enclosure, we resume the process. Go get the oxen, bring them into the enclosure, chain them to the group, push the whole thing forward, always "yelling like a cowherd" and making as much noise as possible. Fabrice always carries with him a large stick, a kind of club made from a root which he uses to make noise by hitting the iron stirrups of his saddle and to throw as a motivator towards the bulls. If they are smaller, it is possible to correct them if they get too close. Then they remember…. Or not. Chico and I have nothing in our hands. Passing by an oak tree, I tore off a branch. The effect is immediate. I am well aware of the absurdity of the object in the event of a bull charging, but the placebo effect is there, I am less afraid. That being said, although somewhat reassured, I question Fabrice on the notion of safety during these faenas in the countryside. "The key is to always have two exits per enclosure." I'm looking closely... Let me take a closer look… And encounters only one outcome. "Ah, yes… but here there is only one…." " the mayor commented to me with a smile.
After an hour, they pass. The fundamental element is fatigue… after a while they're exhausted and they suffer a bit. The problem is that, at the same time, if they refuse, they charge the horse later… therefore closer. Furthermore, it's always the bull that initiates the attack. It's all a question of distance, and that can only be learned through trial and error, and therefore through moments of fear. That's the school of Campo Bravo.