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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

185 replies

Slubberdegullion · 02/12/2014 19:05

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.

OP posts:
MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 02/12/2014 21:30

lolled, ffs, fucking autocorrect. Hmm

MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig · 02/12/2014 21:31

Now my first post makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Ffs.

Hiya Cheerful, how are things? No more candles I hope. Are you mourning Beth?

Bettercallsaul1 · 02/12/2014 21:34

Yes, CY, I bet he never thought of spuds as comfort food again.

FrancesNiadova · 02/12/2014 21:42

A segway, brilliant!
I have a vision..........Grin

Original poster
Slubberdegullion · 02/12/2014 21:45

Haaaaa Grin at Mary on a Segway

OP posts:
ErrolTheDragon · 02/12/2014 22:01

All this donkey-riding is missing the point if you want an authentic Nativity. What you need for Mary is a pregnant teenager, so slubber should have to wait a few years more (and hopefully never).

Now compute the HSE implications for that Mary on a donkey...

FrancesNiadova · 02/12/2014 22:04

Christmas Song, (Without Sir Cliyff)

Little Segway,
Little Segway,
On the danger loose chippings road,

Got to keep on,
Rolling onwards,
With your sign for on delivery,
Load.

Sound out those ringtones tonite,
Bethersden,
Bethersden.
Follow that International Space Station tonite,
Bethersden,
Bethersden.

Little Segway,
Little Segway,
Had a busy day,
Got to plug into
Electric hybrid socket,
To get lower road tax from
Plug-in car.gov.UK.

Got to plug into
Electric Hybrid socket,
To get lower road tax from
Plug-in car.gov.UK

(Aesthetic coconuts are optional) Grin

Nona11 · 02/12/2014 22:20

I can't believe this is even a discussion, yes she should wear a helmet but there's not reason why it cant be white or with the headdress over.

Donkeys have a powerful kick and can easily throw a child off, I would have thought in entertainment setting would have even more risks of being spooked or distressed. You're going to have a lot of unknown risks with having an audience.

But that's just my opinion based having qualification in Animal Management (did a section on working animals in entertainment) and running a pet related business myself. Personally for safety and insurance reasons, if it was my donkey being used they would be no way I'd let a child ride without a helmet no matter how silly they thought they looked.

A party shaved head to get stitches (even minor) looks far worse.

FrancesNiadova · 02/12/2014 22:26

Too right Nona.
I know that I've poked fun, but the whole thing should begin & end with the safety of, "Mary", & the well-being of the donkey.

FTS123 · 02/12/2014 22:44

What a marvellous thread! Ended my evening rather nicely Grin

trainersandaches · 02/12/2014 22:44

Grin At the Little Segway song

TooMuchCantBreathe · 02/12/2014 22:44

Yabvu I'm now totally smitten with a church going donkey. I don't even like donkeys fgs but he's so fluffy and melted chocolate coloured! I wonder if I can persuade dd to swap her pony for a chocolate donkey? Who looked at the poor chap and decided to name it after lucifer?! Those eyes put most spaniels to shame Grin

Cloudhowe63 · 02/12/2014 22:48

Lucius and Brian should wear helmets.

Little Segway. Grin

indy84 · 02/12/2014 23:09

This thread made me laugh out loud!

Sorry for the boring and sensible advice to follow.

It sounds like there may be a particular riding helmet being offered for loan. A helmet must be correctly fitted in order to be effective in the event of a fall. Obviously if the helmet in question is too small then she won't be able to wear it anyway, but a helmet that's too big will not offer good protection in the event of a fall. Unless you are planning to buy a new helmet at a tack shop fitted by a trained fitter the safety provided could be questionable anyway!

UsedtobeFeckless · 02/12/2014 23:19

I have absolutely no sensible advice for anyone but this thread is the gift that keeps on giving so thanks OP! ( I agree that two whole Marys smacks of dirty dealings ... Hmm I was on the bloody PTA for years and the best I managed was Joseph and A King so think on't ... Mary squared? Very fishy ... )

Waltonswatcher · 02/12/2014 23:31

Ah feck it , I shouldn't read threads like these... I'm now off to bed with a head full of intrusive brain damage. I've all the posts and still don't know who the infortunate Brian and his jackets . And what the heck is a Segway?
Mn at night is like a trip to my local just before closing .

Autumn82 · 03/12/2014 00:35

Brian damage... Grin

Minerves · 03/12/2014 01:25

never ever ever get on any horse or donkey without a riding hat you never know what is going to happen, i've personally witnessed a little girl get a head injury (ractured skull) while riding a donkey without a hat, the donkey tripped and fell on her. she also broke her arm. she recovered but was in hospital for a long time. not worth it.

AGnu · 03/12/2014 01:56

There shouldn't be a donkey at all according to this - Myths about the nativity

Bulbasaur · 03/12/2014 02:16

You know what else ruins Mary's aesthetic? Brain damage.

Animals are unpredictable. Children are unpredictable. It's not always a good combination, and it doesn't matter how well you know your child or the animal. Kids do stupid things all the time. She could fall off backwards and get kicked in the face. Donkeys are known for not panicking like a horse would, but it could get aggressive if scared. There's a lot of variables.

Really, it's up to you. But I'd put the safety of my child first, and looks second.

But hey, a child's brain is still developing. A little physical therapy and she'll be fine. There's a girl out there with only half a brain in her skull and she doesn't seem too bad off. :)

Redglitter · 03/12/2014 02:41

Just looking back at holiday photos from the summer & helmets or protective head gear certainly not required for a donkey ride on the beach. I'd imagine they'd be going a bit faster than Marys

TheChandler · 03/12/2014 16:19

Bulbasaur You know what else ruins Mary's aesthetic? Brain damage.

Its pretty important for children to develop neural connectivity related to active sport, which inevitably results from a healthy but manageable degree of risk. Learning to fall well is also a skill, albeit a more advanced one. Alternatively, if you produce a child that's likely to turn into a soft butterball, scared of doing anything wrapped up in padding and with really poor motor skills and balance, they might end up falling over on wet leaves while walking to work and getting serious concussion like my SIL.

I know what I'd rather be. Is there anything that you are not actually afraid of?

TheChandler · 03/12/2014 16:23

Donkeys have a powerful kick and can easily throw a child off, I would have thought in entertainment setting would have even more risks of being spooked or distressed. You're going to have a lot of unknown risks with having an audience.

But that's just my opinion based having qualification in Animal Management (did a section on working animals in entertainment) and running a pet related business myself.

That would be a buck and not a kick.

Does anyone have any idea the number of severe spinal injuries that are caused by the backs of helmets impacting with the back of the neck? And how dangerous a badly fitting helmet can be if it causes a concertina effect repeatedly impacting even slightly against the skull? Why not ask an A&E doctor their opinion, instead of listening to people who are obviously ridiculously risk-averse?

Reelife · 03/12/2014 19:43

Note to self Slubber:

do NOT attempt humour, unless you have successfully completed all Risk Assessment documentation.

Imagine if Brian had done this, how much trouble he could have saved himself?

EAst17Brian

AIBU to eat three baked potatoes and get into my Merc?

But what if you fall out of the car and run yourself over in a cul-de-sac?

EAst17Brian

Nah, that'll never happen.

Booboostoo · 03/12/2014 20:32

Having ridden all my life my DC are not going anywhere near horses, ponies or donkeys without a riding helmet on whether they are handling or riding but each to his own.

As mention above Olympian King-Dye fell off at walk without a hat and is now severely disabled after a very long road to recovery. Her tripped and fell sideways, I've had a similar fall on a road and I was knocked unconscious while my hat was completely broken - I do think it saved my life.