Graduate, getting about, returned without a saddle (8)
I believe the answer is:
bareback
'without a saddle' is the definition.
(synonyms)
'graduate getting about returned' is the wordplay.
'graduate' becomes 'BA' (someone with a Bachelor of Arts degree).
'getting' says to put letters next to each other.
'about' becomes 're' ('re' means regarding or about).
'returned' becomes 'back' (I've seen this in other clues).
'ba'+'re'+'back'='BAREBACK'
(Other definitions for bareback that I've seen before include "kind of riding" , "On a horse without a saddle" , "On an unsaddled horse" .)