The horse whisperer has a fan base, and horse lovers came out in droves when the self-trained “kid from Brooklyn” paid a visit to Franktown’s Harmony Equine Center.

The Dumb Friends League formally opened the doors at the center June 16, with an open house that included a visit from Tony Brunetti, renowned horse trainer, owner of TBR Ranch in Fort Lupton and Harmony’s in-house horse expert.

Brunetti and his family were selected by the league to work with the horses at the center, which began its mission in the fall of 2011. Harmony Equine Center was opened to provide a safe haven for horses seized by or relinquished to law enforcement agencies in abuse or neglect cases, said Chris Gallegos, league spokesman.

About 80 horses were in the care of Harmony Equine Center on grand opening day, with 30 of those animals available for adoption, Gallegos said.

Brunetti calls the numbers an indication that the center is meeting a high demand.

“It was too long overdue for these horses that are abandoned and abused,” he said. “Just look at this facility. We can only imagine where they came from.”

Brunetti’s daughter-in-law Dawn Brunetti works extensively with the horses at Harmony, getting them ready for adoption in a series of steps that begins with gaining the horse’s trust. From there, it’s “80 little steps” to get to a “finished horse,” she said.

Tony Brunetti’s infatuation with horses began when he was a little boy growing up in the streets of Brooklyn. Back then, his best bet getting near the four-legged animal was working with the police department’s animals or working for the racetrack.

“I spent a lot of time on the racetrack,” he said.

For more information about the Harmony Equine Center or to see horses available for adoption, visit ddfl.org/equine.