Final answer:
The term for Mexican cowhands who used horses and ropes to round up herds of cattle is vaqueros. They borrowed much from the Mexican vaqueros who had settled the Great Plains before the American cowboys arrived.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for Mexican cowhands who used horses and ropes to round up herds of cattle is vaqueros.
Between 1865 and 1885, as many as forty thousand cowboys roamed the Great Plains. It is worth noting that the stereotype of the American cowboy borrowed much from the Mexican vaqueros who had long ago settled those lands. The saddles, lassos, chaps, and lariats that define cowboy culture all arose from the Mexican ranchers who had used them to great effect before the cowboys arrived.
The vaqueros were considered excellent horsemen and lived on large estates. They played a vital role in the cattle industry and were responsible for using their roping skills to round up and drive the cattle. Their influence on the American cowboy can be seen in their horsemanship and the tools they used.