A study was made of the falling syndrome in 737 animals fought in a range of first and second class fighting‑rings during the years 1991, 1992 and 1993. Six different fall degrees were taken into account, according to the severity of the symptoms, and the fall distribution during the fight was studied.
The symptoms of fall displayed by the animals become more and more severes as the fight progresses. The first signs of the minor degrees, degrees 1 and 2, occur in the early stages of the fight, i.e., during the "inicio" and "varas" stages. The first evidencie of degree 3 occurs mainly in "varas" and "banderillas", while that of the most severe ones, degrees 4 and 5, occur in the last two stages of the fight.
The "muleta" stage lasts 6 minutes and 45 seconds and is longer than the other stages which might lead that the animals have more opportunity to present falls events during this stage. On the other hand, the increase in physical exertion displayed by the brave animals which is characteristic of the "muleta" stage determines the increase in the frequency/minute of the different fall degrees.
In conclusion, it seems that the physical exertion displayed by the animals during the earlier stages of the fight has repercussions on the "muleta" stage, increasing the frequency/minute of the different fall degree.