Swazi's Davey Hughes got bucked.

The Levin clothing company owner was learning to ride a bull at Parklee Bull Riding School in Kimbolton yesterday.

3, 2, 1, the gates opened and Hughes was away ... not off to a good start though ... he starts to slide, down, and further down the side of the bull ... lasting a total of 1.8 seconds, Hughes tumbles to the dusty pit below.

The two-day bull riding clinic taught Mr Hughes a lot about a sport he knew little about, but was anxious to try.

After he told the Manawatu Standard earlier this year that he planned to ride a bull in a rodeo, Parklee Bull Riding School owner Roger and Karen Bird offered Mr Hughes the opportunity to fulfil this dream.

"This is the fault of the Manawatu Standard ... but also for me being a smartarse," he said.

Mr Hughes said the whole 1.8 second ride was a blur, "but then again the best things you've ever done are a blur".

Australian clinic trainer Brad Scott said bull riding is like Russian roulette. He thought Hughes' ride was a good first attempt.

Mr Scott has taught 2500 students in New Zealand and Australia to ride a bull.

He said it was a big effort to get over the hurdle of actually riding a bull.

"We have to mentally and physically prepare the guys, and teach them how to safeguard themselves, riding technique, dismounting etc. It doesn't happen overnight and these men won't even scrape the surface of bull riding over the next two days."

With an injured knee, Mr Hughes said he knew exactly why he did not stay on for long. "Brad said if you look at the ground you'll end up there ... guess it's my own fault then," he said.

He said he now has a huge amount of respect for bull riders, and is keen to jump back up on that horse (or, bull) and give it another go.

- © Fairfax NZ News