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.

People trip and fall over in the street at walking pace, bang their heads and die. Does that mean we should all start wearing helmets just in case?

Not that I'm particulary well versed in donkey sizing.
When Ive got up close before I've never come away thing that he's a whopper donkey.

Grey. Maybe a bit white around the mouth parts.

Soft.

Big ears

Forlorn looking

You get the gist.

Well she's your daughter op. I just wouldn't risk being around an equine animal without a helmet.

Ooh can I do a stealth boast too. My dd is going to be Mary and she will ride a donkey and it will be up the church path.

She's three and preschool haven't mentioned anything about helmets. I imagine her key worker will just be walking next to her.

Oh kids don't get given helmets for the donkeys at St Annes.

Lol @ Waltonswatcher "my DS was the donkey"

Do donkeys move fast? You don't really see them move much at all but it could get scared and go off on one like other equiney creatures so worth taking that into account.

So this is a LITTLE donkey you say? Perchance is the road also dusty?

Does anyone have any examples of people being injured on donkeys?

At the moment I think I agree with SirChenjin (people fall in the street point)

Grin for dusty road.

Dusty roads could cause a slip... They could also become rather muddy if it rains & then there's a risk of mudslides... Also OP, are you absolutely sure it's a real donkey & not a zebra in disguise? I hear zebras don't like being ridden so it's probably best to check for a 'wet paint' sign on that grey 'donkey' before you let her climb up!

Gosh. In summer my DDs had a donkey ride each at the park. It was just a few metres round in a circle. I didn't even think about a helmet!

Come on Slubber, fess up. You are either

Chair of governors
Make regular generous donations to the school or
Are a disabled parent so your kids get the sympathy vote.

In our family, it was the third option

Brian is not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy.

Does anyone have any examples of people being injured on donkeys?

Are you seriously trying to suggest it would make a blind bit of difference if anyone did?

OP, get your DD to wear a helmet or don't. Your choice entirely.

I'm afraid it makes me think of this

in particular of Cardinal Biggles

I think it's nice to have a modern twist on the Nativity story, so a riding hemet would be absolutely fine.

It would be great if there were mentions of "'elf and safety" throughout.

Courtney King-Dye, an American olympic dressage rider fell off at walk when her mount tripped.
She wasn't wearing a helmet.

4 years on, she can walk (with a stick) and her speech can be recognised.

I, having ridden all my adult life, would not let my child hatless on a donkey walking through a crowd if people. They are flight animals, if it's spooked, it's going to go off pretty sharpish!

Has the donkey done this before? What sort of character is he? If he sees a carrier bag flapping in the hedge will he bolt for his life?

I think there ought to be safety barriers and all in the vicinity should be wearing protective clothing and helmets. There may be a stampede.

Oh, I feel it necessary to add... My DSs are going to be shepherds in the church nativity. I quite thought they'd be disobedient sheep - shepherd is one step up from that!

I was always a star or an angel because I was little & cute with blonde hair. My friend got to be Mary purely because she had brown hair.

The risks are about as high as her being involved in a fatal accident while travelling on a mobility vehicle in an airport.

Having said that, I'm liking the idea of the wimple :o

It's not the OPs choice - don't be ridiculous. Its MNs choice - preferably after a heated debate, some name calling and insult throwing, a few sanctimonious posts for good measure, and one or two flounces

Forget the donkey who is OP sleeping with to get both DDs cast as Mary?

Unless of course she is keeping the Donkey in carrots and he is now an 'owned donkey' who only carry the daughters of the OP...

I smell a conspiracy

this might be a better option