Evidently it is normal for that variety. Do you know its name? It sounds like a climbing rose that could use a wide trellis. But some of these can be grown as shrubs.

Assuming that your variety is a large shrub or shrubby climber that makes canes 6-8' long, here is how I would prune. Don't take new basal canes down to the base. If you are growing it on a support such as a fence, fan the long canes semi-horizontally and tie them down. If you are going for a stand-up shrub, cut the long canes back to 3-4' after blooming. Then each should produce two or three lateral shoots. Cut these back after blooming so that two or three leaves remain. After a few years you will have a denser, better-behaved shrub. Prune to 4-5' in spring.

However, during fall in zones 7-4, I wouldn't do much pruning at all, because the new growth appearing in October would probably be killed back.

This post was edited by michaelg on Sat, Sep 27, 14 at 11:16

Some hybrid teas will grow like that too. They were bred to have those long sturdy stems for cutting. It doesn't sound like there is anything wrong except that it's healthy and happy! I don't think you should cut them all the way down now. It's too late in the season. Just let them grow for now and store as much energy as they can for the winter. In the spring you'll be able to tell how far down they need to be pruned. You may lose most or all of that cane depending on how your winter is but it should grow back again next season.

Yes, there are some super-vigorous hybrid teas like 'Frederic Mistral' and 'Traviata' that can grow 8' in a season with straight, upright canes. If that is what she has, my pruning advice wouldn't apply. Best approach is to take long stems after each bloom cycle and try to keep the flowers within reach (7'). These roses would be pruned fairly low in spring, and zone 5 winter damage would require severe spring pruning.