Basha O'Reilly

Basha O’Reilly was the explorer, author, publisher and webmaster whose work transformed the modern world of equestrian travel. “Bandits and Bureaucrats” recounts how Basha rode her Cossack stallion, Count Pompeii, from Volgograd to London, becoming the only person in the twentieth century to ride out of Russia. Having made other lengthy trips by horseback across Mongolia and America’s Outlaw Trail, Basha was made a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Explorers' Club. Basha helped create the Long Riders' Guild, the world's first international association of equestrian explorers. With Members in more than forty countries, the Guild has supported or advised equestrian expeditions that have crossed every continent except Antarctica. A pioneer who began working with computers in 1979, Basha created and maintained the Guild’s commercial free websites, which are a repository of the largest collection of equestrian travel information in human history.

Her work as a publisher was extraordinary. Basha published more than 300 equestrian and travel books in five languages, including "The Encyclopaedia of Equestrian Exploration", the most comprehensive study of horse travel ever created.

Basha was also the Executrix of the Tschiffely Literary Estate, the most famous Long Rider of the 20th century. Basha passed away unexpectedly and peacefully in January, 2021. The publication date of "Bandits and Bureaucrats" would have marked the 22nd wedding anniversary of her marriage to CuChullaine O’Reilly, an investigative reporter who has documented and written about equestrian travel for more than thirty years. Basha’s legendary stallion, Count Pompeii, became the winged logo that appears on the Long Riders’ Guild flag that is carried by the most renowned equestrian explorers.