Emma Tallulah Behn follows in the footsteps of her mother, Princess Märtha Louise – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio

– In the last few months, almost all the time has been spent on training, so there hasn’t been much time for anything else, says 13-year-old Emma Tallulah Behn. She has been riding since she was two years old. As the youngest of the children of Princess Märtha Louise and Ari Behn, she has received a lot of support from her mother, who herself was a Norwegian show jumping champion in her time. – Mum tried very early on to get my sisters to like it too, but they weren’t that interested. But it really worked out perfectly for me, she says. Now Emma is getting ready for this year’s NM at home in Lier. – This is Fetoucha, I got her two years ago, says Behn about the 11-year-old warmblood mare she competes with. Emma Tallulah and the horse Fetoucha Photo: Anders Haualand / news In the last National Championship she took bronze in the children’s class, and the goal is a medal this time as well. – I want a medal. Preferably a bronze, but I’ll be happy with that too. Riding partners The riding partner Julie Askim Petersen is also in the same stable. She and Emma have trained together for many years, but they have never competed against each other. Julie Askim Petersen has competed in several National Championships in the past. Photo: Anders Haualand / news – I think next year will be the first time we will compete in the same class, says Julie. She got her first pony when she was two years old and started riding alone when she was five. – So you learned to ride before you learned to ride a bike? – Yes, I actually did, she says and laughs. Petersen has participated in five outdoor NMs, and three indoors. She also says she is not satisfied with anything other than a medal. – The goal is to be the best. Julie and Emma both aim to win a medal in the NM. Photo: Anders Haualand / news Competition in the blood In Emma Tallulah’s family, they haven’t exactly skimped on their sports achievements. As mentioned, the mother became Norwegian champion in showjumping. The grandfather, King Harald, has participated three times in the Olympics, and has been world champion in sailing. Most recently this year, he took tenth place in the WC. King Harald is a big fan of sailing and has previously been world champion. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB The niece, Princess Ingrid Alexandra won gold in the junior national championship in surfing in 2020. – Do you feel any pressure to perform? – I don’t really do that. I have fun and compete for myself. But it has not always been so easy to keep up with show jumping. – I hated jumping when I was little. I taught my pony to stop, or to turn to the side. Jumping was the worst thing I knew. Fortunately, she got more used to it over time, and has been training a lot with her mother. – It has been very nice to have someone who has been interested in horses since I was a child. She is very happy that I do horse riding. Until Sunday, the participants will compete in show jumping in Lier. Photo: Anders Haualand / news



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