09/07/2026
Why I started Kohnke’s Own, by Dr. John Kohnke BVSc RDA
Many horse owners, stores and friends have asked me over the years why I started Kohnke’s Own in 2001. It really all began from a dream I had in the year 2000! My wife Kaye and I have now owned and run the business for 25 years and we are still growing steadily and proud to be a daily source of nutrition for so many horses in Australia and overseas as well.
I’ve been a veterinarian for 51 years and I’ve always had a particular passion for horses, especially performance horses, as I consider that they are the peak of athleticism of all animals and have a wide ranging and unique ability to work from a low to the highest intensity in so many different disciplines. However, I consider that they also need extra help to maintain health, well-being and performance though nutrition.
I have been in the equine industry as a vet with an interest in animal nutrition, including horses, dogs and other animals, since 1980s. From 1998 I began working for myself as a nutrition consultant to horse trainers, studs and feed companies from 1998 to 2000.
During this period, I had also finished researching and writing the lead authorship of the popular and practical “Feeding Horses in Australia” book for the Australian government (RIRDC), which was published in 1999.
As I researched all the literature for the book, I reviewed the equine nutritional science, feeds, forages and grains, as well as supplements and other nutritional products, available at that time. I concluded that many of the dietary products on the Australian and overseas market for horses were simply not well formulated and didn’t meet the latest requirements, especially as horse training and performance was becoming more sophisticated. The deficiencies of these products were particularly apparent from the latest research and my own practical experience and growing respect for how nutrient science, including quality, potency and stability, can improve the effectiveness of a supplement.
It was at this time that I seriously considered formulating a range of my own dietary supplements. But it really first started from a dream I had one night, that led to the development of our complex but highly recognisable separate coloured pellet system (Supplets®) for comprehensive ration balancers like Cell-Vital, as well as powdered formulations, such as Cell-Salts. These concepts and the scientific innovations behind these original products were totally new and are still unique. Over the years I have continued to develop world-first products, such as Mag-E, Gastro-Coat, Muscle XL and TRIM.
During the initial 14 years, Kaye and I worked very long hours, beginning with just one dedicated staff member, to establish the brand and product range. Over that period, I travelled Australia many times over and gave more than 2000 lectures and ration analysis days. Kaye and I still work every day now, in the office and ‘on the floor’ supervising our manufacturing, managing the business, representing the company, visiting stores and talking to customers.
Our daughter, Dr Philippa Kohnke, who holds a science degree in Molecular Biotechnology and a PhD in protein biochemistry, joined the family company in 2014 as Research and Development, Quality Assurance and Information & Technical Services Manager, after a post-doctorate in France studying sheep and horse fertility. Since joining the company, Philippa has developed many new products, including FABBY, Reboot HOOF+, Redi-Flex, Cell-Ultimate and Tox-Target.
I am lucky that Philippa and I share the same interest in horse nutrition and a passion for research and development. This has led to the creation of new supplements but also regular updates of existing products – which we are still doing! My daughter and I are true perfectionists and we believe in doing the absolute best for horses and also their owners, because as a family company, we don’t look to cut corners or over-price our supplements.
I never look for profits over the quality of our ingredients, investment in research and extensive field trials, and the superiority of our manufacturing, with 3 facilities in the Hawkesbury in Sydney that are Feedsafe® accredited with a dedicated team of long-term staff.
Our free ration analysis and nutrition information services are also a backbone of our company and our success, with Sian, Karen, Georgia and Marylouise working to help horse owners, rider and trainers every day with their knowledge, as well as liaising with me daily too. Sian has been our longest serving staff member, for over 20 years, and I am very proud to lead and trust all the team who work for me.
And lastly, why the name Kohnke’s Own?
It was suggested that the brand name, Kohnkes Own, would distinguish it from other companies as something that I am proud to represent with my family name. Many horse owners and trainers were familiar with my name already as a horse vet, author and practical nutritional advisor for 25 years at the time. Although some find it hard to spell (or pronounce) correctly, search engines and online stores often get it wrong, and people think it strange at first, it is now very well known in the horse industry as Kohnke’s, which considering that my entire family works in the business, and all my staff are also like family to me, it is really quite fitting indeed!
