THEY ARE the four-legged stars who steal the show in dramas such as Poldark, Victoria and Peaky Blinders.

Now a team from Atkinson Action Horses is set to wow audiences at the three-day New Forest and Hampshire County Show, which is being held next month<JULY>.

The animals and their acrobatic riders will perform the sort of stunts that often leave TV viewers and cinemagoers on the edge of their seats.

Some of the 40 horses owned by the Yorkshire-based business will take part in the show each day.

One of the team's best-known performers is Seamus, an Irish draught often seen galloping along the Cornish cliffs in Poldark, with Aiden Turner himself in the saddle.

Team leader Mark Atkinson says all the horses in Poldark, set in the late 1700s, "have to be a little dirty and scruffy with shaggy coats".

Atkinson Action Horses are currently sponsored by Shorefield Holidays, which have sites across Hampshire and Dorset.

Lesley Lawrence, marketing director of the Shorefield Holiday group, said: "We gladly support the New Forest and Hampshire County Show as it's so important to our area.

"As huge Poldark fans we're delighted to sponsor Atkinson Action Horses."

The show, which made its debut at Bartley in 1921, attracts about 100,000 spectators from across the south every year.

Show secretary Denis Dooley said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Atkinson Action Horses to the Show this year and I cannot wait to see their amazing display."

As reported in the New Forest Show officials are introducing a raft of changes this year after visitors complained that it was the same event every year.

Speaking earlier this year a show spokesman said: "Following this year’s show we carried out a survey.

"The results, plus other feedback received, indicates that our visitors feel that the layout of the show and attractions offered needed to be reviewed as people felt that it was the same year on year.

“With this in mind we have looked at the plan of the show and have made some drastic changes to the layout to try to introduce some new features which we hope will add a new fresh feel to the show."

This week Mr Dooley confirmed that "significant improvements" had been made to this year's line-up.

The show will take place at New Park, Brockenhurst, on July 24, 25 and 26, with free admission for anyone under 16 who is accompanied by an adult. A ten per cent discount is available for anyone buying tickets before July 17.

For more details go online and visit newforestshow.co.uk.