When is it OK to bully a person?

When is it OK to bully a person? When they're famous? When they're successful? When they're performing in a public place? If so, where does that line get drawn? When they've got a couple of thousand followers? When they've won some ribbons? When they're competing at a local show?

Unless you're currently living under a rock somewhere in the Scottish Highlands, you will be aware that Charlotte Dujardin was eliminated after the Grand Prix at the European Championships due to the very clear 'blood rule'. Its cost her a chance of an individual podium finish and its cost Team GB the silver.

I am a firm supporter of the rule in question and agree totally with the decision of the stewards to enforce this rule. That's it. That is where it should stop. It is being dealt with. The FEI ruling, the impact on Charlotte as an individual and as a member of a fantastic team. (Let's just stop for a moment and consider the fact that even without their star performer, they have ended up in 4th position!) Not to mention all her support team - her coaches and owners and vets and physios and farriers and grooms that play a huge part in getting her to the arena.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Charlotte is only human. And as a human she will make mistakes. She knows what she has done. She knows this should never have happened. She is living with the consequences.

Just because she is a remarkable athlete, our golden girl, riding for her country on the world stage, does not give us the right to bully her. There is no excuse for that. Period.