Leo Joseph III walks a fine line between business and pleasure, but he knows on which side of the line he’s going to stay.

&uot;I&160;just love to ride. The day it gets to the point where it’s not fun to me anymore, I’ll quit,&uot;&160;said the award-winning showman.

&uot;I’m not really interested in doing this as a career or anything. I&160;just do it because it’s fun.&uot;

Joseph, a 17-year-old student at Adams County Christian School, won several awards last week at the Palomino Youth World Championship Horse Show in Tulsa, Okla.

Joseph took 14th in horsemanship, sixth in ranch horse, third in western riding and became the reserve world champion in reigning in the youth division, which is overall runner-up.

&uot;It’s a real honor to have done that well at the World Championships,&uot;&160;Joseph said. &uot;I&160;had a real good run last week, and I&160;was fortunate.&uot;

Since Joseph is in the youth division, he is only eligible to receive recognition and prizes, not prize money.

&uot;I&160;mean, winning prize money would be nice, but it’s not necessary,&uot; Joseph said. &uot;I&160;just love riding … it’s all just for fun.&uot;

Joseph, who owns a total of five horses but only shows one, said the best part of the Tulsa show for him was the ranch horse category.

&uot;That’s when you and your horse get judged on how well they interact with one another,&uot; he said.

Joseph said the reason it is most important to him is it gives him and his horse a chance to show off the kind of rapport they have together.

In the four years he has been showing his horse, Joseph has won high points in the Natchez Horseman’s Club, high points in the Mississippi Palamino Association in 1999, and high points in the Mississippi Paint Horse Club in 1998.

Preparing horses for competition involves time, Joseph said. &uot;You have to ride them a lot, and groom them a good bit, and just try to get them used to the heat,&uot; he said.

Joseph doesn’t limit himself to riding horses.

&uot;I enjoy doing anything and everything when it comes to the outdoors,&uot; he said. &uot;I&160;hunt and fish and things like that. I&160;guess I&160;just love having fun outdoors.&uot;

Joseph lends the services of his Palamino to a 9-year-old Ann Claire Aycock of Brookhaven, who is first in the world in horsemanship, hunter-under-saddle and walk-trot pleasure in the 9-and-under division.

&uot;We have the same trainer, and that’s why she uses my horse,&uot; Joseph said. &uot;She’s going to be real good when she gets older.&uot;

Joseph, who is a member of the Dixie Riders Club in Natchez, said another reason he likes riding and traveling with the shows is making new friends.

&uot;I&160;don’t plan on ever riding and showing professionally,&uot; Joseph said. &uot;I&160;don’t think I would like that too much. I&160;just want to have fun.&uot;