muleta

right|thumb|250px|A bullfighter uses his muleta A muleta is a stick with a red cloth hanging from it that is used in the final third (tercio de muleta or de muerte) of a bullfight. It is different from the cape used by the matador earlier in the fight (capote de brega).

The muleta obscures the sword; and as in his earlier work with the cape, the bullfighter uses it to attract the bull in a series of passes, thus demonstrating his control over it. The red color of the muleta is actually irrelevant to the bull since bulls are dichromatic (a type of colorblind), meaning neither the cape nor the muleta color can be accurately discerned by the bull. The color is retained merely for tradition, and to hide bloodstains that would become inevitable during a fight.