Portuguese-style bullfights are called touradas or corridas de touros, and it is distinguished by the fact that the main bullfighter 'fights' the bull on a horse. It should not be confused with the rejoneo, with is a similar horse bullfight performed in other countries, such as Spain.

In a typical tourada - where the bull’s horns have been filed down and covered with a leather cup to protect the horse - six bulls are used. The ‘show’ is composed by two main parts.

In the first part (the most important part) a cavaleiro - a rider dressed in a traditional 18th century costume – 'fights' the bull from a horse by making the bull run and chase the horse and by stabbing different types of weapons in the bull’s back.

First, the bullfighter stabs a special bandarilha (stick with harpoon-like end) which breaks on impact leaving the metal end stabbed in the bull while the wooden end stays with the rider and now reveals a small flag which is used to tease the bull to chase the horse. Then, several bandarilhas (often 6 or more),  similar to the banderillas used in Spanish-style bullfighting (but a bit longer) are also stabbed into the back of the bull, to produce pain and blood loss.

During the performance of the cavaleiro there are also some ‘assistants’ on foot, called banderilheiros, who are dressed very much like Spanish-style bullfighters and who also use capotes (magenta capes). They are there to intervene if problems arise and to attract the bull when the rider changes his/her horse for a 'fresh one' (which happens every few minutes).

Once the bull is totally exhausted because of the continuous chasing of the horse and the blood loss, the rider leaves the bullring and the second and last part starts: a group of eight men on foot called forcados challenge the bull, without protection or weapons. The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform a pega de touros ('bull catch'), and when he does so he hangs on to the animal's head. He is quickly aided by his companions, who surround and hold on to the animal from head to tail until it is subdued.