The difference between rejoneadoras and matadoras is, that the former fight and kill the bulls riding on horseback, whereas the matadoras follow the male example and challenge the bulls on foot.
Bullgames in Knossos
Actually, the name "game" is not quite correct. Bull leaping or bull acrobats would be more appropriate. The palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete exhibits one of the earliest examples of bull leaping. It dates from the Middle Bronze Age and represents part of a ceremony performed in connection with ancient rituals of bull worship. Men and women alike, apparently rushed towards the charging bull, grabbed it by its horns and vaulted over it.
Although Romans also had many spectacles and ceremonies involving bulls, no female "bullfighters" have been depicted.
Revival of Female Bull Fighters
The 20th century saw the appearance of several female bull fighters, predominantly on horseback.
Conchita Citron
Much admired and revered, Conchita Citron was the first to break into the male dominated blood sport. Known as "The Blonde Goddess", this daughter of an American mother and Southamerican father, was born in Peru and started her bull fighting career at the tender age of 13. She died at age 86 in February of this year in Lisbon/Portugal.
Conchita made her debut in 1937 in the main arena of Lima/Peru, having learned from a Portuguese trainer to fight on horseback. Her trajectory comprised approximately 400 fights in South America as well as in Spain and Portugal until retiring in 1949.
She wasn't spared serious injury either and on one occasion, though gravely hit in the thigh by a bull's horn, returned from the infirmary to kill the beast before fainting. She not only excelled as a rejoneadora, but also fought on foot.
Bette Ford
Bette Ford, whose real name is Harriet Elizabeth Dingledein, has an astonishing career behind her. Born in Pennsylvania, she became a model and actress before a trip to Colombia changed her life forever. She fell in love with the art of bullfighting, which lead to a complete "cambio de tercia", to use a taureological term, which describes the way a capa or maleta abruptly changes hands to confuse the bull.
She moved to and trained in Mexico and was the first American woman ever to have made an appearance in the Plaza Mexico. Known as Bette "Guts" Ford, she made a meteoric career as bullfighter and retired ranked in the top ten. Her achievements as a sports hero and role model of bravery are commemorated in the McKeesport Heritage Museum and the Harrisburg State Capitol Museum.
Since retiring from bull fighting, Bette Ford has persued a successful acting career on stage, TV and in the movies.
Cristina Sanchez
Spanish born, blonde Cristina Sanchez, now also retired, became the most famous female bullfighter of recent times. She fought on foot and, during her career, cut over 300 ears. After the bull has been killed by the matador, the spectators, if they find they have seen an exceptionally accomplished fight, wave white handkerchiefs to indicate to the president that an ear should be cut off and given to the torero.
Her art and skills extended far beyond the borders of Spain to South America and she was closely associated with the feminine movement of the 1990s for having broken into the male dominated sport, although, as explained above, she was by far not the first.
Summarizing, it will appear that there are no limits to what dedicated women can achieve, even in such challenging sports as bullfighting, race car driving, sailing around the world , polo or boxing.
