- Is it a real donkey? Mules, horses, ponies and ostriches need their own risk assessments. In the case of ostriches, consider especially the danger of people skidding on yolks.
- Does someone have a brush and spade?
- If so - how strong is their stomach?
- Is the donkey on a rain-affected surface? Be aware that rain-impacted pavements are more splay-prone than grass.
- If the donkey will enter the church - is the floor (a) Wood (b) Tile or stone (c) Carpet?
- If (c) - do you have the dry foam ordered already?
- Don't forget - the end that doesn't do the biting is the end that does the kicking. And vice versa.
- If it slobbers and wags its tail, it's probably a labrador retriever.
- If the vicar thinks s/he is going to ride on the donkey consider (a) how big is the vicar? (b) do they have a Messiah complex? If they're humble - why do they want to ride on the donkey anyway? If they say they're so humble they can ride it - DO NOT let them ride the donkey.
- Just how sharp are those palms? Cut up newspapers are fine. Flowering Yukka can take your eye out.
- Check the hooves. Ensure you have not used both cross-ply and radial, or the donkey may lose traction on corners.
To the 11-point plan, experience suggests a couple of additions: Is the donkey ecumenical as the procession will include most the town's churches; and How musical is the donkey? Will it be spooked by the Silver Band or the Church choir? Will it join in with the singing, as some have seemed happy to do?
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