How do you defeat the first boss on ocarina of time?

The desert boss (a large Stalfos, though much scarier) is pretty straightforward but it can be pretty difficult to get started. The fight happens in two stages. The first stage takes place in a large circular arena with the boss in the center. Get on your spinning top item and ride the rail around the edge of the room to gain speed then launch yourself towards the center of the area. You're aiming for the base of the exposed spine. Just before you reach the spine jump so you hit it a little ways up - it won't work if you hit the spine while on the ground. Repeat this a few times. Each time becomes more difficult to reach him as undead Zombies pop up to get in your way, effectively becoming an impromptu pinball table. Avoid them as best you can and hit the spine with the same method as above until he sinks into the sand. The sand drains away to reveal that you are atop a tall platform with the head of the giant Stalfos. You seem to think it's over, but you're wrong! You're knocked off a high platform to the ground when the head springs into action, and you begin to tackle stage two. Stage two is all about avoiding being hit while getting close enough to ram into the head. You ride your spinning top on the inside track, jumping to the outside track (and back) to avoid spikes, fireballs, etc. When you get close enough to the skull and collide with it in mid-air it will fall to the ground. Follow it, getting off your spinning top and attacking with your sWord. It will rise back up after a short time, so hit it a lot. Repeat the ride/collide/sWord attack cycle until it dies.