The encierro belongs to the runners, the spectators, and the bulls, but the operation itself belongs to the pastores. These herders, working with tradition and precision, move silently alongside the herd each morning, their hands communicating commands that have been passed down through generations. They are not famous. Most runners do not know their names. Yet the entire run is shaped by the pastores’ expertise, their position on the street, and their understanding of each animal’s behavior. Understanding who the pastores are is the difference between seeing the encierro as a spectacle and understanding it as a coordinated system.
The pastores occupy a position in Pamplona that is both practical and ceremonial. They are professional handlers, skilled in reading animal behavior and managing crisis moments, but they are also keepers of tradition in a city that has run these bulls for nearly five hundred years. According to coverage from Navarra Okdiario, the encierro generates dramatic moments that the pastores must manage. According to sanfermines.net, the pastores work during the night-before logistics: “The night before each Running of the Bulls the bulls set to run the next morning are driven from the Gas Corrals in the Rochapea district, up to the corral on Santo Domingo.” This movement, called the encierrillo, is where the pastores’ role becomes visible to the public, but their work extends far beyond that single evening event. Learn more about this critical section in our detailed look at Santo Domingo.
Who Are the Pastores
The pastores are professional cattle herders employed by the Ayuntamiento (city council) and the Ganadería (ranch) to manage the bulls before, during, and after the encierro. They are skilled specialists who have typically worked with bulls for years or decades. According to the Miguel Reta episode of Ander Etxanobe’s Mozxs Podcast, “Miguel Reta is the iconic pastore of the San Fermín encierros and the soul of the Reta ganadería (bull breeding ranch) in Castavarra. A man of the field, of temperament and of his craft, who has spent decades bringing order to the madness and defending a historic cattle line from our land.”
This characterization captures something essential about who the pastores are: they are not hired hands working a temporary job. They are specialists with deep roots in Pamplona’s ranching culture and tradition. The position is revered locally. Dennis explains: “It’s a very revered position in Pamplona. There’s a code among them to make sure that they are staying as fit as possible, as capable as possible.”
The fitness requirement is not ceremonial. The pastores must be physically prepared to move quickly through the streets, respond to emergencies, and react to situations that develop in seconds. Dennis notes that “they make sure to get good rest during fiesta. Because they take the role very seriously.” During the seven-day festival, pastores prioritize sleep and physical condition because the demands of the run are exhausting. Each morning at 8 AM, they are the ones responsible for moving the herd safely from the corrals to the bullring.
The Cabestros and Herd Management
The pastores do not control the bulls directly. Instead, they manage the herd using a system of cabestros (lead steers) and oxen that guide the animals through the streets. Ray Mouton, in Pamplona (2002), describes this essential mechanism: “The bulls share the street with steers, oxen and a few herders. The best place to watch is on the stone wall near the corral on Santo Domingo, looking down the hill toward the bridge, but one needs a pass from the authorities to have that vantage point.”
The cabestros are trained steers that lead the herd. They know the route. They respond to the pastores’ commands. When the cabestros move, the bulls follow, almost automatically. This is the foundation of herd management. According to the Miguel Reta podcast episode, “Pastores are skilled professionals who bring ‘order to the madness’ by managing the manada (herd of bulls) using cabestros (lead steers) to guide and control their movement throughout the encierro.”
The cabestros at La Curva de Estafeta are particularly important because this corner presents the greatest danger to the herd. The centrifugal force of the 90-degree turn sends the bulls toward the outer fencing. If a cabestro makes the turn cleanly, the bulls are more likely to follow. If a cabestro stumbles or hesitates, the result can be a chaotic moment where bulls separate from the herd or fall. The pastores station themselves to help manage this moment.
Dennis notes that “They communicate through line of sight and through voice, along the run route.” This simple statement describes a sophisticated coordination system. The pastores are positioned at intervals along the 875-meter course. They watch each other. They watch the cabestros. They watch the bulls. When one pastore moves, the others see it and adjust. This is how they respond to the variables of each day, the condition of the surface, the behavior of the particular bulls running.
The Night Before: The Encierrillo
The pastores’ most visible role occurs the night before the encierro, during the encierrillo. This event moves the bulls from the Gas Corrals in Rochapea up to the Santo Domingo corral where they will be held until the morning run. As Diario AS documents in its encierro coverage, managing the herd requires constant coordination. According to sanfermines.net, “It is the called encierrillo, that although not appearing in the official program, each time has more public.”
The encierrillo is conducted in near total silence. Mouton captures the atmosphere: “The encierrillo, a magnificent moment, takes place about an hour before midnight. The quiet of the night crossing is strictly enforced by the police who will carry a bystander away for making the slightest noise. The pace is far slower than the encierro and in a way the sight is more awe-inspiring.”
This slow, silent movement is where the pastores’ skill is most visible. There are no runners. There are no crowds in the street. There is only the steady, deliberate work of moving the bulls through Pamplona’s narrow streets using the cabestros and oxen. According to Mouton, “The encierrillo is always observed in total silence and the only men in the streets are pastores, ranch hands or herders who work with bulls for a living.”
The encierrillo is a dress rehearsal. The pastores check the route. They see where the cabestros are moving well and where there might be problems. They observe the behavior of the particular bulls that will run the next morning. This intelligence gathering shapes how they position themselves during the actual encierro.
Communication and Section Assignment
The encierro route is divided into sections, and each section has assigned pastores. Dennis explains the system: “They each have a section and in some cases, if there’s a very complicated suelto, you might see a couple of the pastores working together in coordination.” (For a complete breakdown, see our guide to the full encierro route.)
A suelto is a bull that has separated from the herd. This is dangerous because it means the animal is not being guided by the cabestros, and its behavior becomes unpredictable. In these moments, the pastores must work together to respond. One pastore might position himself to redirect the bull back toward the main herd while another watches for secondary problems that might develop.
Dennis describes the communication method: “They communicate through line of sight and through voice, along the run route.” This combination of visual signals and verbal commands allows them to coordinate instantly. A pastore at La Curva can see the condition of the herd as it approaches and call out to pastores positioned at the next section. There is no radio communication, no modern technology. The system is based on the same principles it has used for centuries.
Preparation and Code
The pastores’ role demands more than physical fitness. It demands a commitment to tradition and a code of professional conduct. Dennis explains: “It’s a very revered position in Pamplona. There’s a code among them to make sure that they are staying as fit as possible, as capable as possible.”
This code is not written down. It is transmitted through observation and mentorship. Experienced pastores work alongside younger men learning the position. They pass down the knowledge of how to read a bull’s behavior, how to position the cabestros, how to respond to the variables of each particular day. The code also includes the understanding that the pastores’ role is to ensure the safety of the herd and the runners, in that order.
Dennis also notes that “They make sure to get good rest during fiesta. Because they take the role very seriously.” Rest is part of the code. So is preparation. Pastores who work the San Fermín encierros are not part-time employees. They are specialists who train year-round to maintain the fitness and alertness the position requires.
Expert Insight: Dennis Clancey on the Pastores
“It’s a very revered position in Pamplona. There’s a code among them to make sure that they are staying as fit as possible, as capable as possible. They are certainly as alert as they can be. They make sure to get good rest during fiesta. Because they take the role very seriously.”
“They communicate through line of sight and through voice, along the run route. They each have a section and in some cases, if there’s a very complicated suelto, you might see a couple of the pastores working together in coordination.”
— Dennis Clancey, founder of Encierro and member of La Unica Pena
Dennis notes that the pastores maintain a relationship with the runners that is both respectful and practical. He explains: “You’ll see runners going up to shake their hands and wish them luck before the run.” This is a tradition that underscores how the pastores are seen in Pamplona. They are not outsiders managing an event. They are part of the encierro community, and runners show them respect before each day’s run.
For behind-the-scenes footage that captures the atmosphere of the encierro and the pastores’ role, see the Chasing Red blog post “Behind the Scenes of Pamplona’s Heart-Pounding Odyssey”, which documents the preparation that happens before each run.
Spanish Vocabulary
Pastore (pah-STOHR-eh): A herder or handler, specifically one who works with bulls. The plural is pastores. The pastores are essential to the functioning of the encierro and are deeply respected in Pamplona.
Cabestro (kah-BES-troh): A lead steer, trained to guide the herd. The cabestros move ahead of the bulls and the pastores use them to direct the movement of the herd through the encierro route.
Encierrillo (en-see-eh-REE-yoh): The night-before movement of the bulls from the Gas Corrals to the Santo Domingo corral. This is where the pastores’ role is most visible to the public.
Suelto (SWELL-toh): A bull that has separated from the herd. A suelto is unpredictable and requires immediate attention from the pastores.
Manada (mah-NAH-dah): The herd of bulls, typically six bulls plus lead steers that run during the encierro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the pastores in the encierro?
The pastores are professional cattle herders employed by the city of Pamplona and the bull ranch to manage the bulls before, during, and after the encierro. They are skilled specialists who typically have years of experience working with bulls. The position is highly revered in Pamplona.
How do the pastores control the bulls?
The pastores do not control the bulls directly. They use cabestros (lead steers) that guide the herd through the route. The pastores position themselves along the course, communicating with each other through line of sight and voice to manage the movement of the herd and respond to emergencies.
What is the encierrillo?
The encierrillo is the night-before movement of the bulls from the Gas Corrals in Rochapea to the Santo Domingo corral. It takes place in near-total silence and is conducted by the pastores using cabestros and oxen. Although not part of the official program, it has grown in public interest over the years.
How are the pastores positioned during the encierro?
Each pastore is assigned a section of the route. They position themselves to watch the herd and the cabestros, communicating with other pastores through line of sight and voice. If a bull separates from the herd (becomes a suelto), multiple pastores may coordinate to redirect it.
What happens if a bull separates from the herd?
When a bull separates (becomes a suelto), the pastores work together to redirect it back toward the main herd. One pastore might position himself to guide the bull back while others watch for secondary problems that could develop from the separation.
Do runners interact with the pastores?
Yes. Before the encierro begins, runners often approach the pastores to shake their hands and wish them luck. This is a tradition that shows respect for the pastores’ role and the tradition they uphold.
The pastores are the invisible backbone of the encierro. To understand their role is to understand that the encierro is not a wild event where anything can happen. It is a managed operation where skilled professionals work to ensure that the run proceeds as safely as possible. To learn more about the route they work and the challenges they manage, read our guides to the complete encierro route and Santo Domingo, where the encierro begins.