Written by BLANCA Rios Montes• 21 October, 2025• 12:22• Curiosities, José Miguel Arruego

When and how is a bull’s life spared in the bullring? Everything you need to know about the indulto

HomeCuriosities, José Miguel ArruegoWhen and how is a bull’s life spared in the bullring? Everything you need to know about the indulto

The indulto of a fighting bull — the act of sparing a bull’s life in the bullring — is one of the most extraordinary and emotional events in a bullfight. Servitoro delves into the meaning, reasons and process behind this rare honour, granted only to a handful of exceptional bulls whose behaviour throughout the fight has been truly outstanding.

The indulto is the greatest recognition a fighting bull can receive — the chance to return to the pens after the fight and live on as a breeding bull, preserving and passing on his bravery. It is a unique outcome, reserved for a few privileged animals that have proven their courage and nobility during the three stages of the fight. But how does an indulto come about? Who decides whether a bull lives or dies? Who gives the final authorisation? Servitoro answers all your questions.

This remarkable event begins at the request of the crowd. It usually starts spontaneously in the stands, when spectators, moved by the bull’s exceptional bravery and charging style, begin to demand his pardon. As the fight nears its end, the audience stands up and waves white handkerchiefs — the traditional signal for requesting an award — urging the matador not to deliver the killing sword thrust.

The matador then looks towards the president of the event, the highest authority in the bullring, who, after consulting with the breeder, may grant this extraordinary honour — the greatest accolade a fighting bull can receive — by waving an orange handkerchief from the presidential box. The atmosphere instantly erupts into euphoria: the crowd cheers and embraces, overjoyed by what they’ve just witnessed, while the matador symbolically feigns the final strike before the tame oxen enter the ring to escort the pardoned bull back to the pens.

The indulto is reserved for bulls with exceptional qualities. Firstly, the animal must have the right physical presence and conformation to be used for breeding, embodying the typical traits of his bloodline. Secondly, the bull must demonstrate true bravery in all three stages of the fight: charging the horse with power, resisting punishment without hesitation, and later showing focus, speed, determination and rhythm when faced with the matador’s red cloth.

Once back in the pens, the bull receives initial medical care from the arena veterinarians, who remove the barbed sticks (banderillas) and clean and disinfect his wounds. That same night or early the next morning, the bull is transported back to his ranch, where the breeder tends to him with great care to ensure a full recovery. Over the following months, he regains strength and weight, ready to begin his new life as a sire in the autumn.

The pardoned bull will live out his days in the countryside, breeding and passing on his bloodline and character — either within his own herd or in other estates whose breeders lease him to strengthen or diversify their stock, maintaining genetic variety and avoiding inbreeding.

Several bulls have gone down in history for being granted this honour. Among them, Velador from the Victorino Martín ranch, fought by Ortega Cano, remains the only bull ever pardoned at Las Ventas in Madrid, during a special breeders’ competition in 1982. Another legendary case is Bienvenido, from Jandilla, whose life was spared by Enrique Ponce in Murcia in 1992 — the first bull pardoned under the current bullfighting regulations, approved that same year. Before then, indultos were only allowed in special breeders’ contests.

In recent years, the Maestranza bullring in Seville has witnessed three indultos: Arrojado from Núñez del Cuvillo in 2011, Cobradiezmos from Victorino Martín in 2016, and Orgullito from Garcigrande in 2018. In Barcelona’s Monumental, before politics forced its closure, Idílico from Núñez del Cuvillo was pardoned by José Tomás in 2008, followed by Rayito from Valdefresno and Timonel from Jandilla in 2010 — the last bulls ever to be granted an indulto in the Catalan capital.