Off Work with Zippo's Circus Audience Particpation Injury!!

[Blu]

I have done my knee in and can only hobble!

All I can say is that if you go to Zippo's Circus, DO NOT volunteer at the point where they ask for "someone over 18 to sit on a horse". Actually, to be fair, they might have said "someone quite agile and over 18..." and I should have had more sense!

I got to the ringside and a helpful clown briefed me:
"Walk straight over to the Ringmaster - he will introduce you, then run across the ring and jump on to that horse"
The horse was about 15.2 hand high - i.e it's back came up to my nose
"the horse will start moving, then when we say 'kneel up', kneel up on the back of the horse. Then when we say 'let go' just let go - don't worry, you will be on the rope".

I thought he was joking, so didn't take this seriously at all.

So there I was , after an undignified scrabble with the help of clowns, on this horse with a belt round my waist attached to a rope which went up to the top of the tent, cantering round the ring - no saddle, just a blanket, nothing to hold onto, and then attempting to kneel up! They shouted 'let go' and I was swinging wildly in mid air, very fast, in big circles above the heads of the clowns. DP said I swung right round the ring 3 times. Eventually the clowns kept bumping into me and brought me to a halt - but I still hit the ground very fast.

I was literally weak-kneed walking back to my seat, but put that down to adrenalin - I was actually shaking.

By last night I couldn't walk, bith knees are swollen and agonised, and one is all black down one side . Am still hobbling this morning, can't drive, DP had to take DS to school on the bus.

I feel such an idiot!

But that is quite extreme audience particpation, isn't it?

yes .. the small girl clown had a harness under her jacket and they attached the rope to a loop that was at the back of her neck .. I can only assume it was a proper 5 point harness

I was looking specifically .. in fact I mentioned this to DH before the act came on .. and he was wincing

Did they ask you if you had any problems before you did the trick .. I can imagine someone with a bad back or fused joints (which puts further stress on those joints not fused) would be put in great danger from this kind of trick

Update:

My knees were still really painful, and the Dr has given me some terrifying sounding anti-inflammatories (Dicloflex??), which are working. it will take at least 6 weeks to get better - but no permanent damage.

AND I have had a very full and considered reply from Mr Zippo himself. They have been fully risk-assessed etc, but are supposed to check for any pre-existing conditions. Which they didn't that day.

And he has offered to pay my physiotherapy bill - without prejudice etc.

I am very satisfied with this...but have written back about a proper harness and the attention to detail in the warning re any conditions etc.

I do think we still need the chance to live dangerously safely, iyswim. And I am a bit old to have volunteered! It's my own fault.

Now....shall I take part in our company christamas 'do' - ice skating at Somerset house????