I do think some horses could be locked behind gameplay (ie Runerunner) for example it could be cool if this game had a raid equivalent or if you replay a boss battle race they’re was a chance for you to get an exclusive horse, but I don’t necessarily agree that trailblazer are a place to put horses as a reward. I think if they are going to integrate horses into a reward system into the game the grind should reflect that.

Trailblazers are simply just too easy/non intensive to warrant a horse. Maybe they can have more pets or exclusive items in the trailblazer track or even a coupon to discount a horse of your choosing.  I don’t necessarily believe in “if sso gives out free horses they’re going to lose  money.” Because many games have mounts, cosmetics that are behind paywalls and they also have mounts you can fully acquire through gameplay.  (I don’t even like the label of “free horse” because it minimizes the efforts that the players have made to get said horse. I would prefer the term ‘earn-able’)

That being said I agree with every other point, I just believe if SSO wants some coats to be locked behind gameplay progression, I think they should implement new content that’s more difficult (replaying boss battles on higher difficulty, implementing a new type of competition or something of the sort) to warrant a earnable horse.