OP: I’m 66 and don’t GAF. I would just ignore the unasked for advice. People shut up real fast when they don’t get attention.
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My only caveat is if you are having mounting issues and need to turn it into a training session, if someone else is waiting allow them to mount. It
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Ken McNabb has a similar video showing pretty much the same way. I’ve taught all my horses to move over to where I am (on the fence, on the mounting block, on a log) to pick me up. It’s easy to train. And they all know not to move until I ask them to move.
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I very much want to learn how to teach this! Thanks for the video link and the Ken McNabb reference.
OP, I get that you’re non-confrontational, but a simple “Please mind your own business” will shut a LOT of busybodies down. It doesn’t allow for engagement as it’s not a conversation and there is nothing to discuss or defend. If they persist, just keep repeating that one statement. Make it stronger if it’s warranted - “You need to mind your own business.”
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First, you’re not dumb nor too thin-skinned, I’d be annoyed by the situation too. Your feelings of annoyance are 100% justified.
Secondly, it has taken me a LONG time to learn how to stop letting others have any influence on what I do with my horses or horses in my care (if I don’t pay for their advice or help…that’s 100% different, but even then there’s a line). Some of that is confidence in my own abilities, some of that is getting older, some of that is realizing that 99% of the people who dispense advice when it’s unwanted don’t actually know what they are talking about.
Thirdly, I’d definitely let horse’s owner know what happened, and help them understand why you didn’t feel comfortable confronting the busybody.
And finally, a cheerful “No need”, “We’re fine thanks”, “No thank you” are all complete sentences. You don’t have to explain yourself. If someone persists after that, I simply repeat those things in a stronger tone. If they continue to persist, distracting me from what I’m trying to do (which is where I get the most annoyed), I will say something like “We’ve got it, thanks, and we’re trying to focus so if you could let us get on with it that would be great”.
I used to use a whip or flag to position the hindquarter, but now I have a relatively simple technique that can be used even if you don’t have implements.
I walk up to the mounting block with the horse on a very loose rein (or rope halter if I’m doing groundwork) so they can position themselves, but I’m sort of guiding their heads with the rein, I say “step up”, and I say “woah” when they are in the right spot.
If they step away, or are out of position (stirrup perpendicular to the middle of the mounting block step), I ask them to walk around the mounting block in a circle and get back into position - I do not move from my position at the top of the mounting block (although I will step one step down if I’m on a very tall one so that if they bump into me so that I don’t injure myself). I don’t have to rush them, but I will on one who has learned it as an evasion and isn’t too sensitive - usually I just ask.
Usually two or three circles trying this and they are seriously annoyed by this game and ready to stand. When they are in the correct position standing for more than a second or two I give them a treat on the OTHER side so they have to turn and reach it with their body moving into me, not away.
I repeat that a couple of times, then I transition to alternating a treat with a wither scratch. Then I transition to giving the treat once I settle into the saddle.
Pretty soon, I head to the mounting block not even guiding their heads, I say “step up” and the horses just walk into place. I’ve taught more than 10 horses this trick and it always seems to work. I was worried that they would only associate it with the mounting block, but it seems to work well from a fence as well.
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If Daisy pulls this old trick again, next time you pull the old tighten the off rein trick so her rump will swing towards you and help you up onto her back. That was back when we mounted from the ground but I should imagine it would work on a mounting block too, unless Daisy moves off altogether and pulls you off the mounting block.
As for the butt-in woman, ignore her if you can, tell her to please not interfere if you can’t.
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kinda like the equestrian version of driving a stick-shift? 
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