to think that a riding helmet will ruin the aesthetic of Mary on a donkey?

[Slubberdegullion]

Dd2 has been asked to be Mary on Christmas Eve for the evening outdoor service at our village church. She has to ride on a donkey (Lucius) up the church path through the folk of the village (bearing lanterns). It's all very tastefully done. She then dismounts and gets given the baby Jesus. A tableaux is formed in the church porch of all the other characters. It's Christmas Level 11.

The issue of the riding helmet has been raised again. Last year dd1 was Mary yes this is a Nativity top trumps stealth boast win and we turned the riding helmet down, because well, it would look LUDICROUS for a start.

I mean, really, is riding for all of, I dunno, 25m up a church path at a sedate pace that dangerous? I think not, but I await festive donkey related horror stories with interest.

[AdventCaroline]

Surely the riding hat would be hidden under the headscarf/veil worn by any self-respecting Mary?

[FishWithABicycle]

It's got to be up to the parents of the child being Mary - that's you - and so long as it is very clear that you will blame no-one but yourselves if she falls off and hits her head, that should be fine. If a parent did feel that their preference for helmets outweighs anyone else's sense of aesthetics that is also fine. Mary can wear her traditional blue head-covering over her riding helmet.

I wouldn't insist on a helmet myself - and gave frequently allowed children unhelmetted donkey rides at the seaside, but would never dictate what another parent's child should or shouldn't do.

[Pootles2010]

God yes, surely Mary would not be bare headed?!

[SpringBreaker]

I havent been to blackpool for many years, but do the kids there need to wear helmets when trotting along on the donkeys nowadays?

I cant see the need for it as if she was to fall off, at that speed someone would catch her, or she would land on her feet.. its a walking donkey, not desert orchid..

[TicTicBOOM]

Honestly I would accept the helmet, but I'm a real worrier and entertain even the most remote what-ifs. Plus, in high school a friend of mine died as a result of being thrown from her horse and that would weigh on my mind.

Sorry to be a debbie-downer!

[PiperIsTerrysChoclateOrange]

I think safety comes before having an authentic look.

Animals are not predictable and a fall from a donkey could cause serious Brian injury.

[Slubberdegullion]

Well indeed. The donkey is hardly going hell for leather is he?

I can't put the helmet under Mary's , hmm, is it a wimple? That would look even worse. Mary with a huge enormo-cranium. No no no. That won't work.

Mary gets the owner of the donkey alongside, plus Joseph, and I think dh snuck into the proceedings last yet to.

[Slubberdegullion]

there's a grass verge.

Oh and she's 9. She can hold on.

[HedgehogsDontBite]

I'm getting palpitations at the thought of Mary with her head uncovered. Won't someone think of the children?

[SpringBreaker]

I am amazed kids arent helmeted up and put in safety clothes before being allowed on a roundabout at a fair these days..

Health and Safety overkill..

I doubt anyone died ever from falling off an almost stationary donkey.

[listed]

Oh my god, Mary in a riding helmet! I would pmsl

On a sedate donkey, being led, lots if responsible adults around.... there is like 0.0000001% chance of anything happening.

That's nuts!

[meoverhere]

Friend of mine went riding without a helmet. Safe as houses horse, soft verges.

Freak accident, at a walk (horse tripped on a rabbit hole).

She fell on her head and spent the rest of her life profoundly disabled.

Is it honestly worth the risk??

[Slubberdegullion]

Uncovered by helmet or by Mary-wimple?

What IS it called.

She'll have a wimple.

[Waltonswatcher]

Shameful stealth boost !
Are you the PTA chairwoman ? Their kids are always Mary and Joseph .
(My Ds was the donkey ...oh the shame!)

[listed]

I'm a little worried about Brian though.

Why would he be involved?

[pauline6703]

I think it is another example of health & safety gone overboard. No helmet, no danger, looks better. It is you and your DD's choice but if it was me I'd say no helmet.

[SirChenjin]

I'm worried for Brian and the serious donkey related injuries which might befall him as per Piper's post

I'm normally very strict about helmets, but I really think she'll be OK without one. Unless it's an enormous donkey travelling at speed? in which case it might be a horse in disguise

[CoffeeandNumbers]

Agrees with tictic.

You're putting your fashion concerns above your child's safety?! Come the fuck on OP

[SpringBreaker]

I cant see there being many rabbit holes on the church path either..

[listed]

Fwiw I work for Riding for the Disabled for years.

We had quite a few riders who had become disabled through riding accidents.

Not a single one who fell from an almost stationary donkey though

[listed]

I think we need to know a little more about the donkey tbh

[Madcatgirl]

Shall we have stories about people not wearing helmets and being mounted in a stable or yard and coming off and cracking their heads open? There was a girl came off recently in a yard without having moved, she died.

One of my livery girls got booted in the head just last week.

Aesthetics? Yeah, whatever.

[listed]

Rather than fairly irrelevant riding horror stories (of which I have plenty) can we have some examples of non helmeted Marys suffering catastrophic brain injuries during a nativity scene please?

I think it would give us a better idea of the risks.

[Slubberdegullion]

The donkey is a very steady donkey listed.

And quite small, as donkeys go.

[listed]

Colour of donkey? I'm building a mental tableau...