Cowboys and cowgirls rode into town Thursday to take over the New York Institute for Special Education on Wild West Day.

About 100 children with developmental disabilities learned to square dance in an event aimed to improve their motor skills. Activities also included throwing, riding and working on balance.

"It's an opportunity for them to practice their skills they've learned in the classroom and generalize them to a larger area," says Barbara McPhillips, the principal.

The institute is one of the oldest in the country that provides specialized services for children with disabilities.