RUBIK’s® cube, horses, & students

RUBIK's Cube

By Shawn Walker, MBA, Owner of Lone Guardian LLC

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Horses are truly magnificent animals, embodying grace, strength, and beauty. These majestic creatures have been companions to humans for thousands of years, serving various roles from work animals to beloved pets. However, it is essential to acknowledge that domesticated horses can suffer from injuries and ailments over time, much like humans do. The unfortunate aspect of their care is that they cannot verbally communicate their discomfort or pain, leaving owners to decipher the signs of distress. This inability to communicate necessitates that horse owners become adept at reading the subtle body language and behavioral cues exhibited by their horses. Observing changes in posture, movement, and temperament can provide crucial insights into their well-being. The process of diagnosing and addressing these injuries can be quite frustrating at times. Just when you feel you have resolved one issue, another one seems to emerge unexpectedly. This cycle can feel reminiscent of the complexities found in a Rubik’s Cube, where each twist and turn reveals new challenges to overcome.

Rubik’s Cube: The Rubik’s® Cube, a fascinating puzzle, was created by Ernő Rubik in 1974. Originally designed as a teaching tool to help his students develop their three-dimensional thinking skills, the Cube has since become a global phenomenon. The Cube features six sides, each adorned with a different solid color, and is composed of 54 smaller squares arranged into nine cubes on each side. The possibilities for solving a single Rubik’s® Cube are staggering, with an estimated 42 quintillion combinations, specifically 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 distinct configurations. Interestingly, it took Ernő Rubik himself a month to solve the very cube he had invented, highlighting the puzzle's complexity and the mental challenge it presents to solvers.

How is a Horse like a Rubik’s Cube: If you have the privilege of working with horses, you will soon discover that they share many similarities with the Rubik’s® Cube. When you first acquire a horse, it is often the case that their "Cube" is not yet solved for you. The horse's Cube may be in a state of disarray, with various issues and challenges remaining hidden beneath the surface. As time progresses and the horse continues to move and interact, these problems may begin to manifest, significantly impacting their overall health and well-being. As you dedicate time and effort to working with the horse, it is possible to resolve one side of the horse’s Cube. However, as you celebrate this small victory, you may find that a second issue surfaces, complicating your efforts. This dynamic leads to a feeling of an ongoing, never-ending game between you and the horse. Just when you think you have addressed one concern, another arises, forcing you to revisit previous challenges.

• The first lesson learned from experience in this journey is the importance of maintaining a journal to document everything you do with your horse. Initially, the path forward may not be clear, but as you reflect on your notes, you may uncover valuable insights and patterns that can guide your future interactions.

• The second lesson is to understand that when you work on any new aspect of the horse's Cube, the pieces you have already solved may need to be adjusted. This means that you will inevitably have to revisit earlier issues from time to time. It is crucial to be mindful of the feelings of frustration and self-doubt that can arise during this process. When these emotions surface, take a moment to step back, breathe deeply, and remind yourself that setbacks are a natural part of the journey, and with persistence, you will overcome them.

• The third lesson to keep in mind is that nothing gets fixed overnight. Healing and growth take time, and it is essential to recognize that working on the horse's Cube is a collaborative effort. Horses may resist changes until they comprehend the benefits those changes will bring to their lives.

How does this relate to law enforcement? Each individual has their own Rubik’s Cube, much like the horses we care for. It is vital to remember that just because we address and correct an issue within ourselves, it does not mean that we will not have to revisit that issue in the future. The primary difference between a horse's Cube and our own lies in how the sides of the Cube are labeled and who has control over the Cube. It is possible for someone to inadvertently disrupt our Cube without realizing it, leading to unforeseen consequences that affect other areas of our lives.

Now, there is a quicker method to solve the Cube, such as disassembling it or removing the stickers to rearrange them back into the correct order. However, there are two significant drawbacks to solving the Cube in this manner. The first issue is that over time, the Cube or its stickers may lose their integrity. The stickers may begin to peel off, or the Cube may fail to hold together, rendering it ineffective as a puzzle. The second issue is the loss of the valuable learning experience that comes from solving the Cube without compromising its integrity. This process teaches individuals how to recover and adapt without relying on shortcuts that undermine the essence of the challenge.

The Cube serves as an excellent metaphor for developing three-dimensional thinking skills, which are crucial in various learning models, including Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and deliberate practice methods. Engaging with the Cube allows individuals to learn from their mistakes and understand how different ideas or techniques can influence the surrounding environment. This process fosters humility and encourages the growth mindset, as individuals explore the intricate relationships between the sides of the Cube. Over time, as one becomes more adept at solving problems, they will find themselves capable of navigating the complexities of their Cube more swiftly and effectively. Are these skills essential for those in law enforcement?

How does this play into the academies or our own agency? Let’s take this concept of the Cube and apply it to the students we are training in the academies or our own agency. Each student possesses their unique Cube, which will differ from the others, reflecting their individual experiences and challenges. A primary goal of the instructor should be to assist each student in understanding their own Cube. In some instances, this may involve guiding them toward solving their Cube, while in other cases, it may be about providing them with the tools and strategies needed to navigate their path to resolution. The approach will vary based on the specific ideas or tasks that the instructor aims to instill in the students. It is undoubtedly a desire of instructors to see their students continue to grow and develop long after they have completed their training at the academy or in-service training by the agency.

Here is a bonus for students learning and understanding these concepts: it allows them to see the bigger picture when it comes to working with the community. By recognizing the intricacies of their own Cube and the Cubes of those around them, students can foster stronger relationships and more effectively address the challenges they encounter in their professional lives, while engaging in the issues with three-dimensional thinking. It could enable them to view the effect of action and possible outcomes.   

This was taken from article written I had written in 2020, and re-edited:

Walker, S. (2020). Rubik's ® Cube, Horses, & Students [Newsletter].  International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards & Training, 31(1), 42-43. https://www.iadlest.org/Portals/0/Jan%2020%20Nwsltr%20final%206.pdf?ver=2020-01-14- 121117-247