Nancy Good, president of the Wakatipu Pony Club, said tonight's event would be a good opportunity to socialise and watch a bit of horse action while supporting a good cause.
It will cost $10 to attend the barbecue, which will be hosted by television cooking show host, former All Black Graham Thorne.
All proceeds will go to the non-profit organisation Catwalk, which funds research on cures for paralysis caused by spinal cord injury.
The barbecue and competition starts at 6pm.
On Sunday, the Wakatipu Pony Club's grounds at the corner of Speargrass Flat Rd and Hunter Rd will play host to the district's biggest equestrian event of the year.
The annual Wakatipu one-day horse trial is usually held the day after the Lake Hayes A and P show, which is tomorrow.
In past years, the event has attracted high-profile riders, including members of the Australian national eventing team, who borrowed horses locally to compete in the event.
However, this year the Australian riders will not participate.
"Unfortunately, the Australians will not be joining us this year.
"I guess the tight economic times would have played a role in that decision.
"But we still have a strong field of 140 entrants, including seven riders in the intermediate class, which is the highest class at the event.
"The members of Wakatipu Pony Club who won the Springston Trophy earlier this year will all be competing.
"It is going to be a very competitive field," Ms Good said.
The event will start with dressage from 8am on Sunday morning, followed by cross-country from 10am and showjumping, which starts at 10.15am.
