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.

Well at least your DD gets a donkey.

When mine was Mary at Nursery School, she was transported to Bethlehem on a hobby horse! She then decided she wanted to carry Jesus as well, so she gave birth before getting to the Inn.

It was chaos, I tell you, chaos.

I'm sure your DD will be absolutley fine on the donkey, sans helmet.

Will Joseph be in high viz?

It'll presumably be dark (or dusky? ) once it gets underway?

Lucius has been doing this for years, years and years. He is extremely reliable. He also comes along on Palm Sunday and walks a considerably longer distance carrying panniers of Palm crosses.

A million years ago I got to be Mary in the nativity (stealth boast). My mum wouldn't let me rise on the donkey cos it wasn't safe so I had to walk beside it. Kind of messes up the story, never quite gotten over the shame.

I'd go helmet less too.

Lucius sounds like a pro. It's a no helmet vote from me and sign the disclaimer in triplicate etc.

Have the animals generally been risk assessed? Are they free of ticks (lyme disease), bovine TB etc? Are there are straw related allergies?

I fear for the safety of you all

Donkeys really don't move any faster than they have to really, do they? Honestly, she'll be being led, it's a short distance, she's being led, she'll be fine.

He's called Lucius? Like Lucifer?

Helmet, body protector and a couple of pillows, pronto....

flinging at your sad face Mary walk of shame

Cross posts. Lucius sounds like he's got it all under control. You could always threaten him with the gun vet if he steps out of line.

Well, it's got to be your decision. There are hundreds of stories about people being injured in pretty nothing situations but the chances are slimish. The problem is that the consequences can be disproportionate.

Dd ( 17) has been riding years, she came off on Sunday, walking sedately on our long owned seriously lazy pony. Nothing serious even but she twisted under the pony and now has hoof print shaped bruises all the way from her ankles to her head (including her mouth). Just a silly silly slip but easily done.

Personally I'd go with the hat but tbh I probably wouldn't judge someone who didn't in your situation - unless it went wrong, then I'd judge, because us humans are contrary like that

No not like Lucifer.

There are no donkeys called Lucifer.

Lucius, like a Roman.

I am so so so jealous we don't do nativities in the US. The drama seems delicious.

I'm with Chenjin on this. In a town I used to live by a little boy was running and sliding along the floor, as kids do (think it was at school) and he hit his head on a table and died.

There are so many things that can happen every day, but we don't put on helmets and full on gear just to walk down the street. We do an assessment of the risks and make the best choice we can.

OP I'd say no helmet.

Well you've already made your mind up OP haven't you and think the idea is ridiculous.

I am betting that you have never had a brain injury affect your life or you probably wouldn't be so dismissive of minimising the risks.

Personally I wouldn't put my child at risk for aesthetics, no matter how small the risk. But then I have had first hand experience of how devastating a brain injury can be so I am rather paranoid in that area.

I'd be more concerned about the saddle arrangements.
Side saddle? Much chance of slippage = helmet
Ordinary straddly type straddle? Surely pretty stable = no helmet.
In option B Mary had better wear trousers rather than the familiar robe item.
Or harem pants? somehow does not quite do it for me ...

Slubber, I have a donkey you could borrow. He is very good with children, and hasn't thrown anyone to my knowledge. Maybe we could do a switch, y'know, like a heist, behind the back of the church.

You would only need to feed him in Samosas.

To be fair, donkeys are not flight animals in the same way horses are. Because they are usually solitary and territorial in the wild, they tend to be more likely to stand their ground and more stoic about scary things. That said, it does also mean there may be less warning and the donkey could spook very suddenly.

It is rare, but people do get serious head injuries falling from equines at a walk, or the animal may suddenly spook. I once caught a "christmas" donkey that had grown frightened and run out onto a road (fortunately riderless).

Also as she is under 14, if you are going onto the roads or public rights of way, the law says she should wear a riding hat.

That said, the chances of something happening are very small, so I am sure she will be fine.

That is a very kind offer Reelife. I will take it under consideration

At least then you would have a mare and a spare.

But helmet will be covered by headscarf thing. So wear the helmet!!

I agree that this scenario has all the portents of disaster - a donkey (almost) called Lucifer, the real possibility of the little known but devastating Brian damage, the hubris of the OP daring to have two daughters playing Mary. How could this possibly end well?

Brian damage is a shocker. Brian Adams murdered so many songs.

I have had many, many positive experiences of helmet-less donkey riding and never suffered so much as a slight concussion. When I was young and church-going it was a tradition that whichever child had their birthday closest to Palm Sunday got to ride the Palm Sunday donkey. Thanks to my mid-April birthday it was very often me. Never fell off once. And I am so clumsy that today I managed to slam my own leg in my car door.

"a mare and a spare"

Snort. That's quite a feat of poor coordination Ling.