yes, I just pruned Heritage back to around 4 foot, she had several canes that were close to 6 foot and were finished blooming so I just cut her back to the same height as the rest of plant to give her a better shape.

I used to do that with Bishop's Castle when it was a vigorous plant (pre-drought) to keep the blooms from falling over at the end of long stems. It worked quite well.

Jeri, do you have any idea WHY Austins did that in your climate? Also,I gather that your climate has changed a lot during the past few years...am I right in thinking that before your summers were coolish ,with morning fog, and have now become consistently hot and dry?Was this Austin experience of yours before, when the climate was still relatively cool? I've been shy about summer pruning, because I tried it years ago,and just got a lot of die-back, but this was probably because it was so hot and DRY (remember, I can't water established plants). But this year we had nice weather, with regular rain (to me, an essential part of the definition of "nice" or "good" weather is plentiful, regular rain, lol). So I wonder if I should try it...that is, if I ever find the time...

I think austins are bread for vigor to reach a decent size during the growing season in cooler climates such as England and in places like Cali where the weather is more mild year round it extends the growing season and the vigor produces the large growth and octopus canes that's my theory on it

They don't all do it. And some of the ones that do make glorious climbers. Leander is one of my DH's favorite climbing roses.