Claire Yeaman is a 35-year-old dispensing optician and practice manager from Gosforth, Newcastle - a young urban professional who challenges the stereotype image of the huntswoman.

Here she tells why she is passionate about the sport, likely to be banned after a Commons vote today.

The majority of people who know me both professionally and socially probably have no idea that I hunt.

That's not because I am ashamed or embarrassed by the fact, but not mentioning it means avoiding getting into heated debates with people who most of the time have no real concept of what actually goes on.

Many anti-hunt people have the impression that hunt members are a bunch of upper-class toffs, who chase round the countryside with no regard for other country dwellers or animal welfare.

The truth is, the majority who hunt are ordinary people from ordinary backgrounds who care about the countryside and have to work hard to be able to afford it. The hunt would welcome anyone who genuinely wanted to follow to see for themselves what really goes on. I first started riding when I got my first pony at the age of four.

I joined the Morpeth hunt pony club at the age of six, so it was a natural progression to hunt. The hunt encourages young people to try hunting, having a special pony club that meets during the season.

My mum has also hunted for the past 30 years with the Morpeth and my great great grandfather was Master of Hounds for the South Durham hunt so it could be something that's in the blood.

My earliest memories of fox hunting are slightly hazy now but to a youngster it seemed a lot of fun, galloping and jumping across country, despite being too far behind to even see a fox!

Apart from the obvious reason for fox hunting, it is very social, with many meets being lawn meets where an alcoholic stirrup cup can be enjoyed beforehand and is a good opportunity to mix with likeminded people.

Hunt supporters clubs work hard throughout the year and organise a great deal of social activities and money raising ventures. Keeping a hunt going is hard and expensive work, and hunt subscriptions are never enough. Hunting is a fantastic education for young horses, teaching it to be brave and bold across country and many top class competition horses started their education on the hunting field. It is also a great way to see the countryside, and nature at its best.

But the hunt has a job to do and that is to control the fox population, and if it were to be banned we would lose the most humane and select way of doing so.

Anti-hunt protesters assume that by banning hunting the fox will live a long and happy life, never to be troubled again. This isn't the case, farmers and game-keepers would continue to protect their livestock and livelihoods but by shooting, poisoning or snaring.

The knock-on effect of a ban would be far reaching, with many losing their jobs and sometimes housing, and the industries that keep hunting going too would be effected, with blacksmiths, feed merchants and farmers who rely on the hunt to collect fallen stock - to name but a few.

Hounds would have to be humanely destroyed as although they are extremely friendly and love attention from people, they are a pack animal and not suited to being a household pet.

If hunting were banned I would probably try drag hunting (where hounds follow a pre-laid scent across country) if it were an option, but the chances of this are remote.

The hunt is very fortunate that farmers and landowners kindly give us access across their land, in return for maintaining fox numbers. Older hunt members may find drag hunting too fast and furious, and would probably hang up their boots!

Naturally with taking part in such a controversial activity you do encounter the opposing side. In recent years hunt saboteurs haven't been too much of a problem, whereas at one time their presence at meets was very evident.

Even when hacking to the meet though, you do get some people driving past who make their opinions very clear!

A lot of behind the scenes preparation goes on to be able to enjoy a days hunting. Hunt staff will be up at dawn preparing the land that is to be hunted over, grooms getting the horses ready and farmers notified in advance for their permission to cross their land.

Months of preparation goes into exercising horses and hounds so they are fit enough to go Autumn hunting usually from September onwards. This is the time that young hounds are introduced to the job and is a good opportunity for first timers to experience hunting at a slower pace.

It helps too if the rider is fairly fit as it can be quite hard work following hounds that are on a run. For myself there is little preparation now that my horses are fit, other than to check my equipment is in order, organise some extra days off work and to brush the mud off my jacket that's still there from last year.

Page 2: Wavering MPs agree to compromise deal