The use of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for the production of equine embryos has significantly increased over the past decade, leading to the creation of labs specific for ICSI and related in vitro fertilization techniques. However, the commitment, resources and skills necessary for developing a viable IVF lab can be underestimated or under-appreciated. The purpose of this paper is to share the difficulties our clinic encountered when developing an IVF lab.