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' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'about' becomes 're' (regarding).
'returned' becomes 'back' (I've seen this before).
'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" .)