Are the 1917 recordings similar to each other? It would be interesting to see the lyrics of one or more of them.

OLD GRAY HOSS

Old gray hoss come a-tearin' out o' the wilderness,
Tearin' out o' the wilderness, tearin' out o' the wilderness,
Old gray hoss come a-tearin' out o' the wilderness,
Down in Alabam'.

Verse, with the usual score, "The Missouri Play-Party," Mrs. L. D. Ames, p. 311. JAFL, 1911, vol. 24, no. 93, pp. 295-318.
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Fuld says the phrase "ain't what she used to be" appeared in a 'song' version published Oct. 4, 1917 by Morris Music Co., the arranger Frank Panella(?);
pp. 408-409, James J. Fuld, 1966, "The Book of World-Famous Music," (Dover reprint).

Fuld also says claims have been made that the words of "The Old Gray Mare" were written by Gus Bailey about an animal at the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas). Bailey was a soldier in Gen. Hood's Texas Brigade and later became a circus showman and musician.