Robaxin (methocarbamol) is a muscle relaxant, also sold as Robaxin. Below: how 8 show and racing governing bodies list it, every published detection time for the dose and route studied, and the document and page each value comes from.USEF: Restricted: dose and time limitsFEI: Controlled MedicationHISA/HIWU: detection time 48 h (2 days)named in the rules of 20 state racing commissions
Each row is one study the governing body published: its own dose, route and formulation. A different dose or route was not studied, and the body says so.
| Body and document | Dose and route studied | Formulation | Horses | Detection time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equestrian Canada Rev. January 15, 2025 p. 18 | 3g PO x for 5 days · oral | 48 h (2 days) | ||
| Equestrian Canada Rev. January 15, 2025 p. 18 | 5g IV · IV | 24 h (1 day) | ||
| Equestrian Canada Rev. January 15, 2025 p. 18 | 5mg PO · oral | 24 h (1 day) | ||
| HISA / HIWU Last updated on December 8th, 2023 p. 19 | 15 mg/kg single IV dose · IV | 20 | 48 h (2 days) plasma | |
| HISA / HIWU 080624 p. 4 | 15 mg/kg single IV dose · IV | 20 | 48 h (2 days) plasma | |
| RMTC (advisory) Updated September 30, 2024 p. 4 | 15 mg/kg single IV dose · IV | 20 | 48 h (2 days) |
The Racing Medication and Testing Consortium publishes withdrawal guidance built on HISA's detection times. It is advisory, not a rule, and ShowSafe Pro shows it beside the HISA result, never in place of it.
| Dose and route | Withdrawal guidance | HISA detection time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mg/kg single IV dose · IV | 72 h (3 days) | RMTC advisory p. 4 |
Transcribed from the governing bodies' own documents. Each entry links to the document and quotes the row it came from.
“Methocarbamol Robaxin® 5.0 mg/Lb (5.0 grams/1000Lb) >12 hours Oral, IV Muscle relaxant” — source p. 10
“CONTROLLED Methocarbamol Muscle relaxant” — source p. 24
From 2027-01-01: 2027 Equine Prohibited Substances List p. 25 lists it as Controlled Medication.
“Methocarbamol” — source p. 11
“VIO405.13 Methocarbamol - The maximum permitted plasma ... No part of a dose should be administered during the 12 hours prior to competing.” — source p. 48
“Methocarbamol ... Permitted ... The maximum plasma concentration of methocarbamol is 4.0 micrograms per milliliter.” — source
“h. Methocarbamol ... No part of a dose should be adminis‐” — source p. 10
“Methocarbamol ... 15 mg/kg single IV dose ... 48 hours (20) ... 1 ng/mL in serum or plasma” — source p. 4
“Methocarbamol ... 48 hours: 15 mg/kg single IV dose. (20 horses) ... 1 ng/mL in serum or plasma” — source p. 19
“Methocarbamol Robaxin 4 C” — source p. 38
“Methocarbamol | 1 nanogram per milliliter of plasma or serum | 48 hours” — source p. 4
Robaxin is named in the medication rules, threshold schedules or withdrawal guidance of 20 state racing commissions: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, West Virginia. Most states publish thresholds (concentrations), not times, and several adopt the ARCI schedule by reference. ShowSafe Pro Racing layers each state's rules over HISA or ARCI the way that state applies them, for all 32 states with live pari-mutuel racing.
A published detection time tells you how long Robaxin stayed detectable in a handful of horses given one dose by one route. It does not tell you when your horse is clear: a bigger dose, a different route, repeated doses, a joint injection or a slower horse all push the real figure out, and every governing body says to add a safety margin set by your veterinarian. Here is how to read the rulebook.
ShowSafe Pro takes the doses already logged for your horse, matches each one to the published row for that dose and route, adds the margin your vet set, and flags anything the studies never covered as Unknown, ask your vet instead of guessing. Every answer shows the document, page and line it came from, for every rulebook the show runs under.
The 2026 USEF Guidelines & Rules for Drugs and Medications (with 27 Jul 2026 Guidelines Update) list Robaxin as "Restricted Medication Dose and Time Recommendations". Maximum dose: 5.0 mg/Lb (5.0 grams/1000Lb) each 24 hours. Not within 12 h of competition. Screening limit 0.5 micrograms per milliliter in plasma. (Page 10.)
On the 2026 FEI Equine Prohibited Substances List Robaxin is a Controlled Medication. The FEI states that a detection time is not a withdrawal time; the treating veterinarian adds a safety margin.
HIWU's published detection time for Robaxin is 48 h (2 days) for 15 mg/kg single IV dose (20 horses), screening limit 1 ng/mL in serum or plasma. RMTC's advisory withdrawal guidance for the same dose is 72 h (3 days). A detection time is not a withdrawal time; HISA leaves the safety margin to your veterinarian.
No. It is the approximate time Robaxin stayed detectable in the horses studied, at that dose and route. Your horse, dose, route and number of doses may differ. Every governing body tells you to add a safety margin set by your veterinarian, and none publishes a withdrawal time. ShowSafe Pro applies the published row for the dose and route you actually gave, adds your vet's margin, and says 'Unknown' when the studies do not cover what you gave.